LEADER OF THE HOUSE

EC Law: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Leader of the House what plans he has to improve scrutiny of EU legislation.

Jack Straw: This remains under consideration. I have recently discussed the matter with the chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Waste Disposal

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what percentage of waste from the House of Commons Estate for  (a) recycling and  (b) incineration was exported for processing in each of the past three years.

Nick Harvey: The House's waste contractor has reported the following:
	 (a)  R ecycling:
	Paper and cardboard
	Once the paper and cardboard is processed, ideally it is all then sold to paper mills within the UK. However, because the re-sale market for this material varies so much on a daily basis, sometimes this material is exported to Europe and the Far East. It is not possible to establish the percentage of the House of Commons' paper and cardboard that is exported.
	Glass, plastic and metals
	The other main recyclable materials such as glass, plastic and metals are generally sold on to reprocessing plants based within the UK.
	Soil and hardcore waste is handled and reused within the UK.
	 ( b) I ncineration:
	None of the waste for incineration is exported. It is all sent to the contractor's Energy from Waste Plant in North London.

WALES

Departments: Paper

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of paper used  (a) for photocopying and  (b) in printed publications by his Office was from recycled sources in each of the last three years.

Peter Hain: In the last three years the Wales Office has used 100 per cent. recycled paper for photocopying and printing, and the paper used in our publications for the last three years has been at least 75 per cent. recycled.

Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many days he spent in Wales on official business in each of the last 12 months; and on how many occasions he stayed overnight.

Peter Hain: In the last 12 months I have spent 67 days in Wales in my capacity as Secretary of State for Wales.
	In addition to the time spent in Wales, the Under-Secretary of State and I undertake Wales business in Parliament and in the Wales Office at Gwydyr House in London.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Nepal

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with  (a) Virgin Airlines,  (b) British Airways and  (c) other carriers on the possibility of direct flights from the UK to Nepal;
	(2)  what representations he has received on the desirability of direct flights between the UK and Nepal.

Gillian Merron: Ministers and officials meet regularly with UK airlines to discuss their future plans for all parts of the world. No specific representations relating to air services to Nepal have been made in any recent discussions with airlines or other bodies. It is a matter for airlines to decide which destinations they wish to serve.

Crossrail Line

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his timetable is for making a decision on the Crossrail project in London.

Tom Harris: Crossrail funding and financing issues will be considered further in the context of Sir Michael Lyons' recommendations and wider spending pressures and priorities. However, the affordability challenge represented by the scheme remains significant.

Highways Agency: Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the Highways Agency uses four wheel drive vehicles for motorway patrols.

Stephen Ladyman: The Traffic Officer Service is a 24 hour- 365 day operation covering all the motorways in England and certain key interlinking trunk roads. Given the nature of the service it is essential that the vehicles which are provided for patrol activities are able to safely operate in adverse weather conditions such as snow and slippery surfaces, hence four wheel drive is considered to be essential. This drive provision also enables the vehicles to be used for certain carriageway clearance operations. There is also a further requirement for a high payload in order to carry the crew, essential kit and, where appropriate, passengers, which means that only vehicles of a particular size can safely be used.

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to reduce congestion on the southbound carriageway of the M1 motorway caused by queuing vehicles seeking to exit at junction 19; if he will consider widening the road at this point to create an extra lane; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency is aware of queuing on the M1 southbound approach to junction 19. A major improvement scheme is programmed which will increase capacity and improve flow at this junction. One of the anticipated benefits will be to eliminate the queuing problem. Preparatory work is in progress and, subject to statutory processes being completed, work on site is expected to begin in February 2009.
	As an interim measure advance warning signs have been installed for safety reasons. There are no plans to widen this section of the M1.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions were brought against the keepers of foreign registered vehicles for failing to re-register their vehicle details with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency after six months in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: There is no current legislation available to the Agency, which allows for the prosecution of keepers of foreign vehicles who have failed to register their vehicles within the required timescales.
	However, if the Agency receives a report recording the sighting of an unlicensed vehicle on the road, the Agency is able to prosecute under the legislation provided by Section 29 VERA. There are practical difficulties with this and unless a name and address of the keeper of the foreign vehicle is provided the Agency is unable to pursue these cases. The Agency is able to utilise other enforcement action such as the wheel clamping and impounding of a vehicle. Vehicle keepers are required to provide evidence of registration in the UK and licensing before the release of the vehicle. The number of prosecutions of foreign vehicles under this legislation in each of the last five years is not collated.

Motorcycles: Licensing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1853W, on motorcycles: licensing, what the location will be of each of the off-road motorcycle test facilities that will be available for use at the date of the implementation of the off-road manoeuvre aspects of the European Second Driving Licence Directive; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The following lists the 67 search areas identified by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) for possible locations of off-road motorcycle test facilities (ORMTF). The list also indicates the 20 acquired before the end of March 2007.
	It is not possible to confirm which of the remaining 47 sites will be operational by October 2008. This is because acquisition and construction are subject to market availability, planning consent, brownfield remediation, and other factors outside DSA's control.
	We are confident that, by the implementation date of October 2008, most customers will be able to reach an MPTC within 45 minutes, travelling no more than 20 miles. DSA will also reach the current target of 40 per cent. of customers being within 20 miles or 45 minutes of an ORMTF by March 2008.
	 Search locations:
	Aberdeen
	Aylesbury
	Ayr
	Bangor
	Bathgate
	Blackburn
	Bournemouth
	Bristol East
	Burgess Hill
	Burton-upon-Trent
	Cambridge
	Carlisle
	Chester
	Dumfries
	Dundee
	Eastbourne
	Fareham
	Greater London East (Essex)
	Greater London South (Croydon)
	Greater London West
	Greater Manchester North
	Guildford
	Haverfordwest
	Herne Bay
	Inverness
	Isle of Wight
	Keighley
	Kirkcaldy
	Leeds or Wakefield
	Lerwick
	Lincoln
	Macclesfield North or Stockport
	Maidstone/Gillingham
	Merseyside (St. Helens)
	Norwich
	Oban
	Peterborough
	Plymouth East
	Reading, Basingstoke or Newbury
	Redruth
	Stoke
	Swindon
	Taunton
	Wellingborough or Kettering
	Wick
	Wolverhampton
	York
	 Search location for which a property has been acquired:
	Bedford
	Birmingham South
	Darlington North
	East Lothian
	Exeter
	Gateshead
	Glasgow
	Gloucester
	Greater London South - Erith
	Greater London North - Enfield
	Hull
	Ipswich
	King's Lynn
	Leicester South
	Newport
	Nottingham East
	Rotherham
	Scunthorpe
	Shrewsbury
	Swansea

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were in working and non-working households  (a) below 60 per cent. of median income,  (b) in the bottom 20 per cent. of the income distribution and (c) the bottom 30 per cent. of the income distribution in each year since 1994-95.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following tables.
	At present, we are unable to provide data for 2005-06 as the Households Below Average Income 2005-06 release is currently being revised. The new release will be available from mid-May.
	The Secretary of State made a written statement to Parliament on 23 April 2007,  Official Report, column 20WS on why the statistics are being revised.
	
		
			  (a) Number of children (millions) living in households below 60 per cent. of median income: by working/non-working households: before housing costs 
			   Working households  Non-working households 
			 1994-95 1.3 1.9 
			 1995-96 1.2 1.8 
			 1996-97 1.4 2.0 
			 1997-98 1.6 1.9 
			 1998-99 1.5 1.8 
			 1999-2000 1.5 1.7 
			 2000-01 1.3 1.6 
			 2001-02 1.4 1.6 
			 2002-03 1.4 1.6 
			 2003-04 1.3 1.5 
			 2004-05 1.3 1.4 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Number of children (millions) living in households below 20 per cent. of income distribution: by working/non-working households: before housing costs 
			   Working households  Non-working households 
			 1994-95 1.4 2.0 
			 1995-96 1.3 2.0 
			 1996-97 1.5 2.0 
			 1997-98 1.6 1.9 
			 1998-99 1.6 1.8 
			 1999-2000 1.6 1.8 
			 2000-01 1.5 1.7 
			 2001-02 1.5 1.7 
			 2002-03 1.6 1.7 
			 2003-04 1.6 1.7 
			 2004-05 1.6 1.6 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Number of children (millions) living in households below 30 per cent. of income distribution: by working/non-working households: before housing costs 
			   Working households  Non-working households 
			 1994-95 2.3 2.5 
			 1995-96 2.3 2.6 
			 1996-97 2.4 2.5 
			 1997-98 2.6 2.3 
			 1998-99 2.6 2.3 
			 1999-2000 2.6 2.3 
			 2000-01 2.6 2.2 
			 2001-02 2.7 2.1 
			 2002-03 2.8 2.1 
			 2003-04 2.7 2.1 
			 2004-05 2.8 2.0 
			  Notes:  1. The information is for Great Britain up to 2001/02 and for the United Kingdom from 2002-03 onwards.  2. It is based on OECD equivalisation factors and therefore will not be the same as any figures previously published that were based on McClements equivalisation. factors.   Source:  Family Resources Survey

Children: Maintenance

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Child Support Agency uses local authority certificated bailiffs for the collection of arrears of child support payments.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 26 April 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Child Support Agency uses local authority certificated bailiffs for the collection of arrears of child support payments.
	The Agency's bailiffs are appointed by the county court, not the local authority. As such, the bailiffs used by the Agency are county court certificated, rather than local authority certificated.
	Certificated bailiffs are granted a certificate by a County Court judge which allows them to levy distress for rent. To obtain a certificate, the applicant must satisfy the judge that he is a fit and proper person to hold a certificate, that he has sufficient knowledge of the law of distress, and that he is not in the business of buying debts.
	Further information concerning the certification of bailiffs can be found on the Department for Constitutional Affairs website at the following address:
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/enforcement/enfrev01/repac/htm.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what action he is taking to speed up execution of arrest warrants in cases of persistent failure to pay child support;
	(2)  what the target time is for the period between the issuance and execution of arrest warrants in cases of persistent failure to pay child support; and what the average time was in the last period for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 26 April 2006:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary for Work and Pensions, what action he is taking to speed up execution of arrest warrants in cases of persistent failure to pay child support.
	and;
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the target time is for the period between the issuance and execution of arrest warrants in cases of persistent failure to pay child support; and what the average time was in the last period for which figures are available.
	The priority for execution of child support warrants is set by each Magistrates' court who will arrange for the execution of warrants through either their own civilian enforcement officers or the Police. The Agency cannot set a target for the executions of warrants.
	The Agency is working with the Office for Criminal Reform and the Department of Constitutional Affairs on an ongoing basis to improve the current time taken to execute arrest warrants.
	The current management information system cannot provide the average period between the issuance and execution of warrants. As at the end of January 2007 the Agency had 278 outstanding warrants in England and Wales. The average period for which these have been outstanding is approximately 50 weeks.
	I hope you find this response helpful.

Community Care Grant

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received a community care grant in each of the last three years; and how many  (a) were disabled and  (b) were receiving disability living allowance.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 18 January 2007
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of people who received community care grant awards in Great Britain 
			   2004-05  2005-06 
			 All 261,000 273,000 
			 Disabled 94,000 96,000 
			  Notes: 1. A community care grant award is recorded as being made in a given year if the final decision on the application (including any review(s)) was made in that year. 2. Some people in each category received more than one community care grant award in a year. 3. The disabled category does not include pensioners who are disabled or unemployed people who are disabled. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. 5. Figures are based on an analysis of all community care grant decisions held on the social fund computer system at the end of September following each year.

Departments: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's staff are located in Eastbourne.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions currently employs 99 staff (equating to 84.9 full-time equivalent posts) in Eastbourne.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are in place to limit the amount of money spent on alcohol for hospitality purposes by his Department.

Anne McGuire: Any expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
	Accordingly alcohol is provided only as an exception and only with the specific written authority of a small number of designated senior civil servants.

Deprived Areas Fund

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what deprived areas fund allocations his Department  (a) made in 2006-07 and  (b) plans to make in 2007-08, broken down by district; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much of the deprived areas funds allocated by his Department in 2006-07 have been spent, broken down by district; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 23 March 2007
	Information on the Deprived Areas Fund allocation by district for 2006/07 and 2007/08 is in the table.
	Information on spend from the fund is only available for one district; Forth Valley, Fife and Tayside. It has recorded a spend of 17,640 to the end of February. Information on spend by other districts will be available later in the year as part of their regular reporting process.
	Any unspent allocation for 2006-07 will be carried over to 2007-08.
	
		
			  Deprived areas fund allocation 
			 
			  Jobcentre Plus District  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 98,877 313,000 
			 Essex 71,305 226,000 
			 Norfolk 69,404 222,000 
			 Cambridgeshire and Suffolk 58,946 189,000 
			 Derbyshire 173,034 537,000 
			 Leicestershire and Northamptonshire 292,828 79,576 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland 91,271 287,000 
			 Nottinghamshire 402,163 186,998 
			 West London 373,640 0 
			 Central London 438,291 1,349,000 
			 City and East London 1,463,187 21,218 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth 905,103 2,780,000 
			 North and North East London 934,576 2,034,549 
			 South London 598,965 1 ,405,983 
			 Northumbria 533,365 0 
			 South Tyne and Wear Valley 810,030 527,309 
			 Tees Valley 518,153 1,596,000 
			 Cheshire and Warrington 59,897 193,000 
			 Cumbria 134,054 418,000 
			 Greater Mersey 574,246 0 
			 Liverpool and Wirral 791,966 0 
			 Lancashire 509,596 1,167,223 
			 Greater Manchester Central 803,374 0 
			 Greater Manchester East and West 422,128 0 
			 Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway and Inverclyde 436,389 1,344,000 
			 Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders 160,675 97,897 
			 Forth Valley, Fife and Tayside 405,966 793,303 
			 Glasgow 946,936 0 
			 Highlands, Islands and Clyde Coast and Grampian 365,084 1,125,000 
			 Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire 442,094 1,361,000 
			 Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire 47,537 26,000 
			 Hampshire 47,537 110,000 
			 Kent 89,369 280,000 
			 Surrey and Sussex 86,517 274,000 
			 Devon and Cornwall 83,665 265,000 
			 Dorset and Somerset 47,537 89,000 
			 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Swindon 47,537 128,000 
			 West of England 96,025 301,000 
			 South Wales Valleys 922,217 1,233,587 
			 North and Mid Wales 186,345 492,035 
			 South East Wales 290,926 789,746 
			 South West Wales 486,778 1,491,000 
			 Birmingham and Solihull 821 ,438 0 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire 90,320 0 
			 Staffordshire 81 ,764 257,000 
			 The Black Country 463,961 0 
			 The Marches 0 0 
			 North East Yorkshire and The Humber 301,384 932,000 
			 South Yorkshire 538,118 0 
			 West Yorkshire 685,483 2,105,000 
			 Total 19,300,000 27,027,424 
			  Notes:  1. Districts recorded as having a zero Deprived Areas Fund (DAF) allocation for 2007/08 are in City Strategy areas. In these areas, DAF money will be allocated to City Strategy consortia.  2. In the Marches district, only one ward qualified for DAF allocation in 2006/07. As this was a very modest amount, a decision was taken to carry it forward to 2007/08 and include it in the City Strategy consortia allocation.   Source:  WP Areas Initiatives and Communities Division

Employment: Discrimination

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the implementation of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 on company benefits available to retired employees; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations implement the age strand of Directive 2000/78 EC establishing a framework for equal treatment in employment and vocational training. This requirement makes it unlawful for pension schemes to discriminate against members or prospective members of a pension scheme and was introduced in December 2006.
	In the last few months, companies have been reviewing their occupational pension schemes in compliance with these regulations. The Government's aim has been to ensure that occupational pension provision will not be jeopardised by this legislation, but it is still too early to assess the effect in practice of these regulations.

Jobcentres: Norfolk

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what associated services are offered by  (a) Swaffham and  (b) Downham Market Jobcentre Plus branches; and what plans have been made for their continued provision if these Jobcentre Plus branches are closed;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the financial savings that would be achieved as a result of the closure of the Swaffham and Downham Market Jobcentre Plus branches;
	(3)  what alternatives have been considered to closing Jobcentre Plus branches at Swaffham and Downham Market.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 26 April 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the closure of Swaffham and Downham Market Jobcentres. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	You are already aware that we are currently consulting on the closure of both these sites, and no decision will be made on the closure of either Swaffham or Downham Market until the consultation is complete.
	Both these offices currently deliver the full range of Jobcentre Plus services including Fortnightly Jobsearch Reviews for customers in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance. The only exception to this is when customers require New Jobseeker interviews; these are delivered from Dereham for Swaffham customers, and Kings Lynn for Downham Market customers.
	Both Jobcentres also provide Jobsearch facilities through our Job Point technology. Additionally customers can access these services via the internet and our Contact Centre Jobseekers Direct Service.
	If closure of these Jobcentres does go ahead, we intend to provide all advisory and Fortnightly Jobsearch Reviews in other locations. For Downham Market customers this would usually be at Kings Lynn, unless transport links make it easier for them to travel elsewhere. The majority of Swaffham customers would use Dereham Jobcentre, again unless transport links make it easier for them to travel to another Jobcentre. However we will also consider the provision of alternative ways for customers to access our services.
	As part of the consultation we are already considering how we could provide these alternative services. In Downham Market we have opened discussion with the Local Authority regarding the feasibility of delivering Fortnightly Jobsearch Reviews from existing Local Authority premises. We have not yet been able to identify similar opportunities in Swaffham but are continuing discussions with our partners.
	In addition to these specific proposals we will ensure that our Internet access and Contact Centre Jobsearch facilities are marketed to our customers. We are also looking at the feasibility of locating some of our Job Points in partner premises.
	The financial savings that could be realised if these sites are closed would depend upon the potential alternative services provided.
	I hope this is helpful.

New Deal

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many New Deal training providers have had their contracts terminated; and for what reason in each case;
	(2)  what action has been taken against providers of ineffective training on the New Deal programmes.

Jim Murphy: New contracts for the delivery of New Deal programmes commenced in May 2006 in Scotland, and in July 2006 in England and Wales. None of those contracts has to date been terminated. Information on whether any New Deal training providers had their contracts terminated between January 1998, when New Deal started, and April 2006, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	One New Deal prime contract in Jobcentre Plus's South Tyne and Wear Valley District will end by mutual agreement in October 2007. This is because Jobcentre Plus has concluded that the arrangements in place do not deliver the outcomes and quality service expected for customers. Alternative arrangements are being established.
	Ineffective providers are dealt with through Department for Work and Pensions contract management processes. In the first instance, a performance improvement plan is agreed with the contractor. If performance fails to improve within a reasonable timescale, a formal breach notice is issued to the contractor. If contract delivery continues to fall below the required standard, the contract is terminated.

Social Security Benefits: Mentally Ill

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2007,  Official Report, column 898W, on mental health, what MIND's conclusions on quality assurance for the Condition or Disability training product were; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 26 April 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question pursuant to the answer of 15th January 2007, Official Report, column 898W, on mental health asking what was MIND's conclusions on quality assurance for the Condition or Disability training product. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus works with a range of partners including MIND in the development of training materials to support the implementation of the Jobcentre Plus Incapacity Benefit Adviser role. The 'Working with Customers with a Health Condition or Disability' training product was developed for staff and sent to MIND for their quality assurance prior to release. On this occasion MIND did not provide any comments or suggestions to the development of this product, however Mencap did respond and we took their comments into consideration.
	I hope this is helpful.

Social Security Benefits: Widowed People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of widowed parent's allowance in each of the last 10 years, in each local authority area.

James Plaskitt: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Unemployment: Households

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the percentage of households of working age adults with no one in work in each year since 1977-78; what projection he has made of that percentage in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The Labour Force Survey data used to answer this question are only available from 1992. The latest available data are for 2006. There is no information available on the projected percentage of households of working age adults with no one in work for 2007-08.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of households of working age adults with no one in work in Great Britain from 1992-2006 
			  Quarter/As at spring  Percentage 
			 1992 19 
			 1993 19.3 
			 1994 20.7 
			 1995 20.1 
			 1996 18.5 
			 1997 17.7 
			 1998 17.4 
			 1999 16.8 
			 2000 16.2 
			 2001 16 
			 2002 16.1 
			 2003 15.8 
			 2004 15.5 
			 2005 15.7 
			 2006 15.4 
			  Notes: 1. Data for 1992-96 are non re-weighted and should not be used in conjunction with data from spring 1997 onwards. 2. Data have been adjusted for unknown economic activity. 3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.  Source: Labour Force Survey

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Housing: Subsidies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on her plans to reform or phase out the housing subsidy system for council housing.

Yvette Cooper: Housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy is based on a notional measure of authorities' income (which is mainly rents) and expenditure. If need to spend is assumed to be greater than assumed income, then the authority is assumed to have a deficit and HRA subsidy is paid to the authority to make up that shortfall. If the assumed income is greater than the assumed need to spend, this negative subsidy is captured, recycled within the HRA subsidy system and used to help pay for the subsidy entitlement of the deficit authorities. Even with this recycling, in the most recent year for which audited data are available (2005-06), the Exchequer still made an annual contribution of over 200 million.
	Surpluses (and deficits) are not related to the efficiency of a council in operating its HRA. Surpluses rarely, if ever, occur where the need to spend is greatest; if we were to allow those authorities that make surpluses to retain them this would, within the total funding levels agreed, mean reduced subsidies and therefore higher rents, for all those authorities with a deficit. The alternative would be higher taxes or cuts in services. We also need to recognise that the surpluses that are being generated by some authorities come from housing that has largely been funded by central Government.
	The Department is currently working with a group of local authorities to investigate the potential benefits, in terms of asset management, efficiency and better outcomes, of allowing some councils to leave the subsidy system. Self financing would involve a one-off settlement to replace future subsidy or surplus payments. As such, it would not be a means for surplus authorities simply to retain a larger share of overall housing resources.

Departments: Publicity

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Department's total spending and that of its predecessors was on advertising and promotional campaigns in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to  (a) television,  (b) radio and  (c) print media.

Angela Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government was established on 5 May 2006. The campaigns run since then are as follows:
	 The Fire Safety campaign
	This was aimed at reducing the number deaths and serious injuries caused by domestic fires. The media spend is as follows:
	
		
			
			 Television 1,200,000 
			 Radio 99,000 
			 Print 118,622 
			 Online 183,000 
		
	
	 Home Information Packs campaign
	The aim of the campaign is to inform the industry and those in the market of the introduction of Home Information Packs and to encourage take up. The media spend is as follows:
	
		
			
			 Radio 360,000 
			 Print 1,862,000 
			 Online 561,000 
		
	
	 Tenancy Deposit campaign
	Aimed at alerting landlords and tenants of their new obligations under the law. The media spend is as follows:
	
		
			
			 Radio 270,000 
			 Print 233,000 
			 Online 70,000 
			 Other 50,000 
		
	
	 Fire Order Reform campaign
	Aimed at small and medium sized business to alert them to their obligations under the new fire order reform regulations. The media spend was as follows:
	
		
			
			 Radio 339,851.61 
			 Trade Press 111,186.70 
			 National Press 90,048.00 
			 Online 91,994.00 
			 Direct mail. 309,232.00 
		
	
	 Connect to your council - Take-Up campaign
	The campaign is aimed at encouraging individuals to use the online services provided by local authorities. The media spend is as follows:
	
		
			  Phase 1 May 2006 to end June 2006 
			
			 Television n/a 
			 Radio 602,000 
			 Print media 1,034,00 
		
	
	
		
			  Phase 2 September 2006 to end October 2006 
			
			 Television n/a 
			 Radio 544,000 
			 Print media 230,000

Fire Services: Manpower

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff she expects to be transferred from existing fire control centres to the regional fire control centres; what consultation she has held with staff and unions about Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) transfer; and what arrangements she plans to make for staff unable to transfer to the new regional fire control centres.

Angela Smith: The number of staff transferring from existing control rooms will not be known until the local authority controlled companies have formulated proposals on staff numbers and structure, and criteria have been developed that define the circumstances under which it would be unreasonable for staff to transfer.
	The Department has published guidance on a wide range of issues relating to the transfer and many informal discussions with staff have been held. Formal consultation is a matter for the current employers and the regional control centre companies. For staff who are unlikely to be able to transfer, fire and rescue authorities have been encouraged to find alternative jobs, and where appropriate, to provide retraining. Costs of redeployment and retraining will be borne by the Department, within reason. The Department seeks to avoid compulsory redundancies where possible.

Government Office for London

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2007,  Official Report, column 1144W, on the Government Office for London, for what reasons the information requested is not held centrally; and if she will consider the case for holding such information.

Angela Smith: It is not a valuable use of resources to record centrally all the items of business referred to in the earlier question. Since 2002 Government Office for London (GOL) has had a central database which records draft replies produced for Ministers in all sponsoring Departments in response to hon. Members' letters. This database shows that GOL has dealt with the following number of Ministerial correspondence cases each year since 2002:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2002-03 503 
			 2003-04 461 
			 2004-05 708 
			 2005-06 325 
			 2006-07 327 
		
	
	There are no plans to record centrally GOL's direct correspondence with members of the public.

HomeBuy Scheme

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications have been made for the  (a) Open Market HomeBuy,  (b) Social HomeBuy and  (c) New Build HomeBuy schemes; and how many have been (i) accepted and (ii) refused in each case.

Yvette Cooper: Between April 2006 and February 2007 there were 19,268 applications for Open Market HomeBuy, of which 10,580 have been approved so far by HomeBuy agents. Only a small number are rejectedthe majority of those not approved will be still going through the application process. Of those applications approved, 716 were subsequently cancelled. This can be a result of applicants formally withdrawing from the scheme or, for example, detailed financial checks revealing county court judgments. In addition a large number of approved applicants will simply not pursue their application, without formally withdrawing it.
	Between April 2006 and February 2007 there were 73,556 applications for New Build HomeBuy of which 54,624 have been approved by HomeBuy Agents. Only a small number are rejectedthe majority of those not approved will be still going through the application process. Information on cancelled approvals is not held for New Build HomeBuy because the applicants buy through a large number of housing association providers, and mortgages are available from all lenders.
	A large number of applicants will initially apply for both Open Market and New Build HomeBuy and will therefore feature in both figures.
	Between April 2006 and February 2007, 534 applicants were received by RSLs for Social HomeBuy pilots. Information on applications declined for Social HomeBuy is not recorded on a monthly basis, but will be examined as part of an extensive monitoring exercise to be undertaken on the programme later this year.
	In the LA sector, between July 2006 and March 2007, 96 applications were received, of which 37 were refused.

Housing: Hartlepool

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households in  (a) Hartlepool constituency,  (b) Tees Valley sub-region and  (c) North East Region are part of a Shared Home Ownership scheme.

Yvette Cooper: The following table shows the number of new homes provided on shared ownership terms through the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing programme (AHP) and local authority social housing grant (LASHG) in Hartlepool, Tees Valley and North East Region for 2002-03 to 2005-06 and planned 2007-08. We do not hold figures for the numbers of households currently in shared ownership. Information is not available at constituency level.
	
		
			  Shared ownership completions through AHP and LASHG 
			   Hartlepool  Tees Valley  North East 
			 2002-03 0 0 6 
			 2003-04 11 21 26 
			 2004-05 0 23 88 
			 2005-06 0 11 73 
			 2006-07(1) 0 50 100 
			 2007-08(2) 10 99 251 
			 (1) Provisional (2 )Planned  Note: Tees Valley includes the following local authorities: Darlington, Middlesborough, Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees and Redcar and Cleveland  Source: Housing Corporation

Local Government

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice and guidance she has circulated to local authority chief executives on how they should conduct themselves in respect of their public statements when contentious restructuring proposals are under debate; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Within the statutory framework, including the requirements under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 restricting certain officers' party political activities, the conduct of chief executives is a matter for them and their councils.
	Officials wrote to all chief executives in areas affected by the 16 unitary proposals under consultation, drawing their attention to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity. The code makes it clear that local authorities should not at any time use public funds to mount publicity campaigns whose primary purpose is to persuade the public to hold a particular view on a question of policy, and that authorities must take particular care when publicity is issued immediately prior to an election.

Local Government Finance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2006,  Official Report, column 2239W, on local government finance, in which years since 1997 the Government were required to make up a shortfall on local authority housing revenue accounts between total rental income and the sources of expenditure to which the answer refers.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 23 April 2007
	The Housing Revenue Subsidy System has received a net contribution from the Exchequer in each financial year since 2001-02, when the Major Repairs Allowance was introduced to help councils do more to repair and refurbish council homes.
	The net subsidy position for each year between 1997-98 and 2005-06 (the last year for which we have audited figures) is given in the following table, negative figures represent net surpluses for that year and positive figures show net deficits, which were paid by the Exchequer.
	
		
			   
			   Net housing element 
			 1997-98 -668,307,497 
			 1998-99 -869,992,311 
			 1999-2000 -1,040,869,030 
			 2000-01 -1,116,331,437 
			 2001-02 351,105,009 
			 2002-03 252,059,142 
			 2003-04 191,153,240 
			 2004-05 78,877,384 
			 2005-06 229,558,982

Local Government Finance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's allocation was for local authorities' allowances for management, maintenance and major repairs in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07; what they are projected to be in 2007-08; and what the total (i) service debt charges and (ii) rental income paid to local authorities were in each year.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 23 April 2007
	Details of management, maintenance and major repairs allowances are given in the following table:
	
		
			   
			  Status  Financial year  Management a llowance  Maintenance  a llowance  Major repairs allowance 
			 Audited 2005-06 1,168,254,149 2,052,043,828 1,357,380,814 
			 Provisional 2006-07 1,207,333,911 2,119,654,860 1,313,506,485 
			 Estimated 2007-08 1,253,322,310 2,203,103,351 1,351,978,810 
		
	
	Data on actual rental income and expenditure on debt charges are only available for 2005-06 as these are dependent upon audited returns from local authorities and are shown as follows.
	
		
			   Amount () 
			 Debt charges 3,013,330,952 
			 Rental income from dwellings 6,019,037,529 
			 Other rental income 189,132,296 
		
	
	Audited returns for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are not due until December 2007 and December 2008 respectively.

Natural Gas: Pipelines

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to reduce the length of time taken to commission the construction of gas infrastructure projects following initial planning application prior to the implementation of the measures expected in the Planning White Paper.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the reply recently given to him by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 24 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 1073-74.
	The time taken to commission gas infrastructure projects following the initial planning application can be affected by a range of factorsincluding commercial or technical issues which are for developers themselves to resolve.
	The Government have implemented measures to avoid unnecessary delays at the planning application stage in dealing with major infrastructure projects under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. These could, depending on individual circumstances, include gas infrastructure projects. Section 44 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 inserted new sections 76A and 76B into the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to allow the Secretary of State to designate a planning application a major infrastructure project if she thinks it is of national or regional importance. If such is done, the application would be processed via special procedures which are aimed at speeding up the decision making process.
	The forthcoming Planning White Paper, to be published this spring, will set out proposals for reforming the consent regime for major infrastructure projects, including major energy projects.

Natural Gas: Pipelines

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received on the length of time taken for  (a) planning decisions and  (b) other stages of gas infrastructure projects following initial planning applications.

Yvette Cooper: Since the beginning of the year, the Department has received a parliamentary question about delays in decision making following planning inquiries for gas storage infrastructure and one about the steps being taken to ensure the timely delivery of gas infrastructure projects.
	Delays in decision making in these cases can often be attributed to their extremely unusual, technical and complex nature. But the Government are committed to streamlining and simplifying the regulatory regime for approving infrastructure projects, and proposals for doing so will be contained in the forthcoming Planning White Paper, to be published in the spring.

Owner Occupation

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the level of owner occupation is in each constituency.

Yvette Cooper: Levels of owner occupation by constituency, derived from the 2001 Census, are contained in a House of Commons Research Paper 04/01 entitled 2001 Census of Population: Statistics for Parliamentary Constituencies, published 30 January 2004.

Planning Permission: Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received on the impact on Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club of further delays in announcing a decision on its planning application for a community stadium at Falmer; and what the latest date is by which a decision on the matter will be announced.

Meg Munn: Following the quashing of the original decision on this case in the High Court, representations were sought on a range of issues from interested parties. A number of those representations address the impact on the football club of the lack of a final decision.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out her target for making a final decision on this case in her letter of 2 March. That date is 9 July, and there are no plans to amend that date.

Recycling: Birmingham

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the best value performance indicators were for kerbside collection of recyclables for Birmingham for each year since 2004-05; whether the authority is on target to comply with provisions in the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003; and what the figures are for  (a) other Metropolitan authorities and  (b) the best performing local authorities.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The best value performance indicator (BVPI) for kerbside collection of recyclables was measured by BVPI 91 in 2004-05. In that year, Birmingham city council reported that 80.6 per cent of its household residents were served by a kerbside recycling collection.
	BVPI 91 was revised in 2005-06 to BVPI 91 a and BVPI 91 b, which measure the percentage of household residents served by kerbside recycling collection of  (a) one or more recyclables and  (b) at least two recyclables.
	In 2005-6, Birmingham city council reported that 90.0 per cent. of its household residents were served by kerbside recycling collection of one or more recyclables. 12.2 per cent. were served by collection of two or more recyclables.
	Results for BVPI 91 a and BVPI 91 b for 2005-06 for all Metropolitan districts with collection responsibilities are in the following table:
	
		
			  Metropolitan District  BV 91 a  BV 91 b 
			 Barnsley 98.0 98.0 
			 Birmingham 90.0 12.2 
			 Bolton 96.9 96.9 
			 Bradford 100.0 52.0 
			 Bury 98.0 67.3 
			 Calderdale 95.4 95.0 
			 Coventry 84.2 71.0 
			 Doncaster 98.8 98.8 
			 Dudley 88.0 88.0 
			 Gateshead 94.5 94.3 
			 Kirklees 88.7 88.7 
			 Knowsley 95.8 95.8 
			 Leeds 90.1 90.1 
			 Liverpool 91.8 91.8 
			 Manchester 83.0 83.0 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 89.2 89.2 
			 North Tyneside 98.9 98.9 
			 Oldham 95.0 95.0 
			 Rochdale 94.4 94.2 
			 Rotherham 100.0 100.0 
			 Salford 99.5 99.5 
			 Sandwell 85.4 84.5 
			 Sefton 97.0 97.0 
			 Sheffield 89.8 20.7 
			 Solihull 100.0 85.7 
			 South Tyneside 97.5 97.0 
			 St Helens 100.0 100.0 
			 Stockport 94.9 94.7 
			 Sunderland 98.8 97.3 
			 Tameside 100.0 89.1 
			 Trafford 100.0 86.0 
			 Wakefield City 96.7 42.9 
			 Walsall 95.5 95.5 
			 Wigan 99.5 29.1 
			 Wirral 100.0 65.8 
			 Wolverhampton 88.5 88.5 
		
	
	In 2005-06, two Metropolitan districts, Rotherham and St Helens, reported that 100 per cent. of household residents were served by kerbside recycling collection of two or more recyclables. For the same period, 125 of authorities (35.4 per cent.) with waste collection responsibilities reported the same level of kerbside collection in England.
	Under the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003, all local authorities in England are required to collect at least two types of recyclable waste from all households in their area by the end of 2010. It is up to each local authority to plan how it fulfils this requirement.

Regeneration: Finance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much regeneration money has been spent in each constituency since 1997; and what studies have been undertaken to gauge its effectiveness.

Phil Woolas: The Department does not record information on regeneration spending by parliamentary constituency and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	We are committed to understanding the effectiveness of our regeneration programmes and have commissioned a wide range of evaluations in support of this. Evaluations completed or underway include the single regeneration budget, coalfields regeneration programmes, housing market renewal pathfinders and the new deal for communities.
	Details of research and evaluation commissioned by Communities and Local Government are available from our research management database (RMD) at:
	http://www.rmd.communities.gov.uk.

Temporary Accommodation

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary's statement on 21 March 2007,  Official Report, column 288WH, on households in temporary accommodation, what discussions her Department has had with the Department of Work and Pensions on extending the pilot Working Future scheme for homeless families.

Yvette Cooper: Working Future is a pilot led by the Greater London Authority and East Thames Group testing the use of a central block grant to subsidise the cost of procuring temporary accommodation in the private sector, which also promotes affordable rents and allows increased access to employment services and training opportunities for 100 households in three London boroughs. There is ongoing dialogue between my Department and the Department of Work and Pensions regarding 'Working Future'. An evaluation is under way, the result of which will feed into future policy development in this area.

Temporary Accommodation

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will break down by area of expenditure the costs associated with the pilot Working Future scheme for homeless families.

Yvette Cooper: Households participating in Working Future pay an affordable rent based on the average weekly council rent for the area, the cost of which is met through housing benefit. The remaining housing costs, which reflect the higher rental and management costs associated with temporary accommodation, are funded separately through a direct central Governmentgrant. 2.28 million was made available at the start of the pilot. CLG provided an additional 60,000 in 2006-07 to fund support services to increase employability among homeless households placed in the subsidised temporary accommodation. 'Working Future is a pilot led by the Greater London Authority and East Thames Group and these and other partner bodies have also contributed.

Urban Areas: Trees

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the loss of street trees was in urban areas in each of the last 10 years.

Yvette Cooper: A survey of trees in urban areas in England carried out in 2004-05 indicated an overall increase in the number of street trees compared with the situation in 1992. The report of the survey 'Trees in Towns II' produced by ADAS and Myerscough College will be published shortly. Copies will be deposited in the House Library.

Urban Areas: Trees

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps are being taken to preserve street trees in cities.

Yvette Cooper: Local authorities are encouraged to produce tree strategies to promote the planting, maintenance and protection of trees in their areas, including street trees and to use current best practice. Local authorities also have powers to make tree preservation orders to protect trees where it is considered expedient in the interests of amenity.

Urban Areas: Trees

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps are being taken to ensure the implementation by local authorities of the European Landscape Convention, in particular Articles 5(b), 5(c) and Article 6, in relation to street trees.

Yvette Cooper: National planning policies, including Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development, already recognise the need to provide appropriate protection and enhancement of urban landscapes, which will include street trees, in England, in line with the principal aims of the European Landscape Convention.

Written Questions

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to reply to the question 126225, from the hon. Member for North East Milton Keynes, tabled on 5 March, on planning in Milton Keynes.

Yvette Cooper: I replied to question 126225 on 25 April 2007,  Official Report, columns 1190-91W.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Childbirth

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many births in Northern Ireland in the last year were to mothers aged  (a) 17 years,  (b) 16 years,  (c) 15 years and  (d) under 15 years of age, broken down by health board area.

David Hanson: The following table gives the number of live- and still-births(1) registered in 2006(3) by age and Health and Social Services Board(2) of residence of mother.
	
		
			  Mother's age  Eastern HSSB  Northern HSSB  Southern HSSB  Western HSSB  Northern Ireland 
			 Under 15 years 4 2 0 1 7 
			 15 11 12 4 2 29 
			 16 59 33 11 10 113 
			 17 114 53 38 52 257 
			 (1 )Birth is defined to be either live- or still-birth. Pregnancies which resulted in the birth of twins, triplets or other multiple births are counted twice, three times, etc. (2 )Births have been allocated to the area of usual residence of the mother based on her postcode. The data include only those births to mothers resident in Northern Ireland at the time of birth. (3 )Provisional data.

Down District Council: Recruitment

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many positions have been advertised by Down district council in the last 12 months; and what the religion was of those subsequently appointed to those positions.

David Cairns: Employment policies and procedures are matters for each individual council. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Down district council to respond direct to the hon. Lady.

Further Education: Internet

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which further education colleges in Northern Ireland offer on-line courses.

Maria Eagle: Although it is not mandatory for further education colleges in Northern Ireland to offer on-line courses, all 16 further education colleges, to a greater or lesser degree, offer on-line learning in some courses. Access to on-line or blended learning and the number of courses for which it is available, varies extensively across the 16 colleges.

Northern Ireland Government; Artefacts

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the whereabouts are of the Black Rod of the former Senate of Northern Ireland Parliament.

David Hanson: Black Rod's Wand is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly and is stored in the Artefact's Store in Parliament Buildings. A catalogue of Parliament Buildings artefacts is available from the Office of the Keeper.

Northern Ireland Government; Artefacts

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where the Maces of the former Northern Ireland  (a) House of Commons and  (b) Senate is; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The pair of silver maces from the Commons and Senate, London 1924 that were presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly are stored in the Artefact's Store in Parliament Buildings.

Paper: Recycling

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the 12 month pilot project which began on 1 April 2006 involving the use by all Departments in Northern Ireland of photocopying paper manufactured from a minimum of 70 per cent. post-consumer waste.

David Hanson: An initial assessment of the outcome of the 12 month pilot project, which began on 1 April 2006, is currently under way and will be presented to the Northern Ireland Procurement Board at its next meeting in late May.
	I will forward the hon. Gentleman a copy of this paper for information following its consideration by the Procurement Board.

Church Leaders

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in the last 12 months the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service has met leaders of  (a) the Presbyterian Church,  (b) the Roman Catholic Church,  (c) the Church of Ireland,  (d) the Methodist Church,  (e) the Baptist Union of Ireland,  (f) the Free Presbyterian Church,  (g) the Elim Pentecostal Church,  (h) the Reformed Presbyterian Church  (i) the Congregational Union of Ireland,  (j) the Evangelical Alliance  (k) Evangelical Continuation in Northern Ireland and  (l) the Caleb Foundation.

David Hanson: The Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service has had no formal meetings with the leaders of these churches and organisations in the last 12 months. He has met once with the Churches Forum, which has representatives from the Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland and Methodist Church, and he also attended a number of other events with church leaders, including a dinner to mark the retirement of Archbishop Robin Eames and the enthronement of Archbishop Alan Harper. He would be willing to meet representatives of any of the churches and organisations listed, if requested.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Bankruptcy

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many individuals applied for individual voluntary arrangements in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no published statistics on the number of individuals who have applied for an individual voluntary arrangement. However there are published statistics for the numbers of individual voluntary arrangements approved by creditors for the last five years and they show
	
		
			   IVAs 
			 2002 6,295 
			 2003 7,583 
			 2004 10,752 
			 2005 20,293 
			 2006 44,332

Employment: West Midlands

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 658W, on MG Rover, in which sectors the 100,000 jobs have been created; what the locations are of the 1,000 hectares of brownfield land which have been reclaimed; and what initiatives  (a) Advantage West Midlands,  (b) the Learning and Skills Council and  (c) Birmingham City Council have put in place to assist unemployed former employees of MG Rover and its suppliers.

Margaret Hodge: Advantage West Midlands does not collect data in the form asked. The agency does have data which disaggregate the jobs total by whether they are jobs in rural, urban or disadvantaged areas but these data are only available from 2005-06 onwards. The sector data are not available and to disaggregate the totals by sector can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Similarly the total figure of 1,000 hectares of brownfield land which have been reclaimed cannot be disaggregated in the way requested, except at disproportionate cost.
	AWM is able to account for 459 hectares of brownfield sites reclaimed since 2003. The remaining 541 hectares were acquired through legacy projects funded by other agencies and programmes, such as the SRB programme and English Partnership.
	 MG Rover
	Following the highly successful work of the MG Rover Task Force over 95 per cent. of ex-MG Rover employees are now back in work. The remaining 260 job seekers are able to access a number of initiatives delivered in partnership by AWM, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and Birmingham city council. These are:
	South West Business Connections, led by Birmingham city council
	Work for you ProjectPartnership project between AWM and Birmingham city council
	Working for jobsinitiative involving AWM, LSC and Job Centre Plus
	Northfield and Longbridge Uplift Projectled by Birmingham city council

Post Offices: Closures

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what methods will be used to determine those post offices which will qualify for the closure compensation package being offered should more than 2,500 post offices apply.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Following the Government's final decisions, it will be for Post Office Ltd. to develop local area plans for proposals for closures and other changes in service provision on a strategic basis within the framework set by Government. As outlined in the consultation document the closure programme will be a compulsory scheme.

Post Offices: Closures

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his most recent estimate is of the number of post offices which will close.

Jim Fitzpatrick: As outlined in the Government's proposals, compensated closures will be limited to a maximum of 2,500 post offices nationally.

Post Offices: Closures

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the reasons are for the deferral of publication of the Government's conclusions on the response to the consultation on the closures within the Post Office network.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department received over 2,500 responses to the public consultation which formally closed on 8 March. We are giving full consideration to the comments submitted and hope to be in a position to announce final decisions in May.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bees

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources are committed by his Department to survey for bee colony collapse disorder.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether his Department is monitoring colony collapse disorder in honey bees in  (a) the US and  (b) Germany;
	(2)  what research is being supported by the Government into the threat to UK honey bee colonies of colony collapse;
	(3)  what steps his Department is considering to prevent the importation of honey bee colonies from countries where incidents of colony collapse disorder have been recorded.

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to fund research into the potential emergence of colony collapse disorder in the UK's honey bee colonies.

Barry Gardiner: DEFRA is aware of the press reports about the situation in the USA in respect of the widespread loss of bees described as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Reports of high colony losses have come from at least 22 states.
	In the UK, scientists and inspectors at the National Bee Unit (NBU) are monitoring the situation, and are in contact with experts in the USA and in Europe to learn the latest results of research into abnormal colony mortality. The NBU has taken samples for further analysis from the few apiaries in England and Wales found this spring with unusually high colony loss for which there is no readily identifiable cause. This work will help the NBU ascertain whether there is a common cause for such losses.
	The DEFRA budget for bee health research and development in 2006-07 is 200,000, which is comparable to previous years, and covers work on all pests and diseases of bees. If findings in the US or elsewhere identify a research need in the UK, the necessary resources would be found as part of our contingency response to emerging new threats.
	Colony loss is known in Europe, but there is currently no reason to link high colony losses in the USA to the situation in Europe. Recent cases in Spain and Portugal seem likely to have been caused by  Nosema ceranae, a spore-forming protozoan that invades the digestive tracts of bees, as well as the impact of varroa.
	If a common cause for high colony loss in the USA is identified and it is pest or disease-related, it is unlikely to be imported here, as long as the rules restricting imports from third countries are respected. It is illegal to import bees from the mainland of the USA.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to increase the  (a) speed and  (b) accuracy of tests to determine the presence of bovine TB in cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: The single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test, commonly known as the tuberculin skin test, is the primary screening test for TB in cattle in Great Britain and other parts of the European Union (EU). The skin test is the internationally accepted standard for surveillance for infection with  Mycobacterium bovis, and is considered the best screening test currently available for detecting TB in cattle. No diagnostic test is 100 per cent. accurate, but the current skin test is effective.
	In October 2006, the Government extended the use of the gamma interferon blood test, alongside the skin test, to improve the sensitivity of the testing regime for controlling disease in infected herds by identifying more infected animals more quickly. It is being applied mainly in herds disclosing TB infection in low risk areas to help ensure infection does not become established in cattle or wildlife. It will also continue to be available for use as a disease control tool in areas of higher incidence.
	In line with recommendations from the scientific community, DEFRA continues to fund further research into improved diagnostics for bovine TB.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the costs and benefits of local authorities reducing the collection of waste bins from domestic residences from once a week to once a fortnight or longer.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 16 April 2007,  Official Report, column 80W.

Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether proposed changes to the number and boundaries of sea fisheries committees may proceed only  (a) after consultation with and  (b) with the support of home sea fisheries committees affected by the proposals.

Ben Bradshaw: As outlined in the current Marine Bill White Paper, I have asked my officials to undertake a review of the number and boundaries of Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs) in England and to pursue measures in the Marine Bill to implement any change. The review will take place later this year in consultation with the SFCs, the fishing industry and with other interested parties. I will examine the outcome of that review before deciding on any changes to the number and boundaries of SFCs in England.

Fisheries: Manpower

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his estimate is of the number of fishermen working  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time in the UK in each month since January 2006, broken down by region.

Ben Bradshaw: The latest year for which information on the number of fishermen is available is 2005. Details are in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of fishermen by district: 2005 
			   Regular  Part-time  Total 
			  England and Wales
			 North Eastern 666 32 698 
			 Humberside 801 129 930 
			 Eastern 473 65 538 
			 South Eastern 1,235 47 1,282 
			 South Western 949 71 1,020 
			 Western 1,050 261 1,311 
			 North Western 56 141 197 
			 Wales 796 335 1,131 
			 Total 6,026 1,081 7,107 
			 
			  Scotland
			 Eyemouth 152 16 168 
			 Pittenweem 107 35 142 
			 Aberdeen 91 72 163 
			 Peterhead 273 0 273 
			 Fraserburgh 614 150 764 
			 Buckie 227 21 248 
			 Scrabster and Wick 157 0 157 
			 Orkney 284 51 335 
			 Shetland 304 147 451 
			 Stornoway 238 249 487 
			 Kinlochbervie 41 2 43 
			 Lochinver 35 10 45 
			 Ullapool 74 6 80 
			 Mallaig and Portree 268 113 381 
			 Oban 163 81 244 
			 Campbeltown 256 69 325 
			 Ayr 529 136 665 
			 Total 3,813 1,158 4,971 
			 
			  Northern Ireland
			 North Coast 20 5 25 
			 Kilkeel 255 25 280 
			 Portavogie 154 20 174 
			 Ardglass 85 5 90 
			 Total 514 55 569 
			 
			  United Kingdom 10,353 2,294 12,647

Fly Tipping: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of fly-tipping were reported in Bournemouth in each of the last four years.

Ben Bradshaw: Flycapture, the national fly-tipping database was set up in 2004 by DEFRA, the Environment Agency and the Local Government Association, to record fly-tipping incidents dealt with by the Environment Agency and local authorities. Data are therefore only available from April 2004 onwards.
	Numbers of incidents reported in Bournemouth, in years for which data are available, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Bournemouth borough council 
			   Total number of incidents 
			 2004-05 1,479 
			 2005-06 1,784 
		
	
	Data for 2006-2007 are not yet available but will be published this summer.

Graffiti

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on removing graffiti in each local authority area in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not held by my Department. Local authorities (LAs) do not have a duty to clear graffiti and so do not receive funding for its clearance.
	Under sections 48-52 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, LAs can issue a Defacement Removal Notice on the owners, occupiers and operators of land and buildings owned by a statutory undertaker or educational institution and which are accessible or visible to the public. These notices can also be served on objects in or on the public street such as cable boxes, telephone kiosks and bus stops. Once served, the company or statutory undertaker has 28 days to remove the defacement. If the defacement has not been removed after this time, the LA can remove it itself and recover the costs of doing so. LAs are required to make reasonable attempts to enter into partnership with the property owners before issuing any notices under sections 48-52.

Livestock: Disease Control

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much livestock was ordered to be slaughtered by his Department in each year since May 1997  (a) with and  (b) without compensation.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on the number of livestock slaughtered for disease control purposes, and the amount of compensation paid, is available in the Chief Veterinary Officer's Reports. These are available in tables which have been placed in the Library.

Shellfish

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effect on marine conservation of the banning of the landing of berried lobsters.

Ben Bradshaw: Scientific studies suggest that a ban on the landing of berried lobsters and an increase in the Minimum Landing Size (MLS), if equally complied with, would provide similar conservation benefits. However, a ban on the taking of berried lobsters would be almost impossible to enforce, and we know it is likely to be widely ignored. Its potential contribution to lobster conservation may therefore not be realized.
	As a MLS can be more effectively enforced and very difficult to ignore, I chose to investigate this option in the interests of getting effective conservation results. We have recently completed a consultation on proposals for increasing the MLS for lobsters and will announce the conclusions from it in the near future.

Waste Disposal: Lighting

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance has been issued to local authorities on disposal of long life bulbs; and whether these bulbs contain mercury.

Ben Bradshaw: Energy efficient light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury (less than 5 milligrams per lamp) and are therefore classified as hazardous waste. They should be disposed of responsibly by local authorities (LAs) and in accordance with waste regulations.
	From 1 July this year, long life bulbs, where collected with other waste electrical equipment, will need to be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. LAs that register their civic amenity sites as designated collection facilities (DCFs) for WEEE will be entitled to free collection from those sites by producer compliance schemes. Once these bulbs are collected, producers will be responsible for their treatment and recycling. Guidance on the WEEE regulations, including on how LAs can register their sites as DCFs, is available from the Department for Trade and Industry. Guidance on the WEEE treatment requirements was issued by DEFRA in November 2006.
	There is increasing evidence that the mercury in each energy efficient bulb is considerably outweighed by the mercury put into the atmosphere through the additional electricity generation required to operate a traditional bulb.

Senior Civil Servants

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the staff turnover rate for senior grade civil servants within the  (a) Waste Strategy Division and  (b) Waste Management Division was in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years.

Barry Gardiner: The staff turnover rate for senior civil servants within the stated Divisions are as follows:
	
		
			  Waste Strategy Division 
			   Number 
			 (i) Last 12 months 1 
			 (ii) Last five years 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Waste Management Division 
			   Number 
			 (i) Last 12 months 0 
			 (ii) Last five years 3

Whales: Conservation

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to oppose the lifting of the moratorium on commercial whaling; and if he will write in opposition to lifting of the ban to his counterparts in  (a) Denmark,  (b) other member Governments of the European Union,  (c) St. Lucia,  (d) St. Vincent and The Grenadines,  (e) Antigua and Barbuda,  (f) Dominica,  (g) Grenada,  (h) St. Kitts and Nevis,  (i) Solomon Islands,  (j) Belize,  (k) Toralu,  (l) Kinibati,  (m) The Gambia,  (n) Cameroon and Nauru,  (o) other Commonwealth members of the International Whaling Commission and  (p) other members of the International Whaling Commission.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK will continue to protest at the highest diplomatic level against the resumption of commercial whaling and we will continue our efforts, along with other countries, to urge those countries that support whaling to reconsider their position.
	DEFRA officials ensure that Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts in the relevant capitals are briefed, and engage in discussion with their counterparts on whaling at every appropriate opportunity. This ensures that these countries are in no doubt of the importance that the UK attaches to whale conservation. UK embassies and Ministers across Government will continue to lobby on this issue in the run-up to the next annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Alaska in May.

HOME DEPARTMENT

DNA Database

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam, of 16 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 1042-44W, on the DNA database; if he will break down the information given by police force area.

John Reid: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table 1: Breakdown of 124,347 CJ arrestee records on the national DNA database by ethnic appearance 
			   6+1 ethnic appearance rating 
			  Force  White European  Dark European  Afro- Caribbean  Asian  Oriental  Arab 
			 Avon and Somerset 296 10 65 27 3 14 
			 Bedfordshire 52 2 14 23   
			 Cambridgeshire 1,363 45 85 91 15 37 
			 Cheshire 1,447 22 15 23 3 8 
			 City of London 34 5 20 18 1  
			 Cleveland 571 2 9 23 7 3 
			 Cumbria 1,833 7 8 16 8 3 
			 Derbyshire 2,526 42 115 149 10 25 
			 Devon and Cornwall 111 11 
			 Dorset 1,607 36 45 43 23 29 
			 Durham 660  1 1 1 2 
			 Dyfed Powys 1,653 21 11 31 11 11 
			 Essex 4,320 106 346 123 45 20 
			 Gloucestershire 1,674 19 95 41 9 4 
			 GMP 6,385 94 560 814 68 115 
			 Gwent 409 5 7 6  4 
			 Hampshire 3,390 43 101 101 30 46 
			 Hertfordshire 3,484 103 352 311 34 29 
			 Humberside 22  1   3 
			 Kent 5,617 172 246 217 62 74 
			 Lancashire 3,933 44 67 461 15 26 
			 Leicestershire 1,812 50 215 480 18 51 
			 Lincolnshire 1,360 10 24 24 6 8 
			 Merseyside 130 1 2 1 1  
			 MPS 5,366 828 4,265 1,550 493 362 
			 Norfolk 499 16 19 3 1 3 
			 North Wales 1,569 20 15 15 6 7 
			 North Yorkshire 1,248 9 19 21 1 5 
			 Northamptonshire 475 17 47 19   
			 Northumbria 790 8 7 13 2 5 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,217 7 77 49 4 5 
			 South Wales 1,816 14 59 56 4 18 
			 South Yorkshire 3,510 74 204 254 19 103 
			 Staffordshire 3,879 39 142 259 17 24 
			 Suffolk 92 2 4 2  1 
			 Surrey 1,429 39 118 146 37 53 
			 Sussex 3,067 72 212 177 40 63 
			 Thames Valley 178 4 35 23 2  
			 Warwickshire 257 3 14 20 1 2 
			 West Mercia 6  
			 West Midlands 5,864 148 1,355 1,778 46 175 
			 West Yorkshire 2,132 18 165 444 8 24 
			 Wiltshire 1,266 25 47 36 16 7 
			 Unknown   
			 Total 79,349 2,183 9,208 7,889 1,067 1,370 
		
	
	
		
			   Visual appearance code
			  Force  White  Non- white  Unknown  No trace  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 16 8 14  453 
			 Bedfordshire 108 55 4  258 
			 Cambridgeshire 429 87 666  2,818 
			 Cheshire 5 3 3  1,529 
			 City of London 22 13 11  124 
			 Cleveland 17 4 3  639 
			 Cumbria 172 3 6  2,056 
			 Derbyshire 40 33 10  2,950 
			 Devon and Cornwall 113 
			 Dorset 3 2 10 1 1,799 
			 Durham 721 11 373  1,770 
			 Dyfed Powys 11  6 1 1,756 
			 Essex 551 84 13  5,608 
			 Gloucestershire 28 9 17  1,896 
			 GMP 124 11 83 1 8,255 
			 Gwent 5  1  437 
			 Hampshire 35 29 9  3,784 
			 Hertfordshire 46 14 17 1 4,391 
			 Humberside 3 4 16  49 
			 Kent 406 100 21 1 6,916 
			 Lancashire 235 20 68  4,869 
			 Leicestershire 15 30 4  2,675 
			 Lincolnshire 23 7 12 2 1,476 
			 Merseyside 172 7 5  319 
			 MPS 4,935 6,195 780 2 24,776 
			 Norfolk 82 3 4  630 
			 North Wales 125 5 149  1,911 
			 North Yorkshire 15 2 224  1,544 
			 Northamptonshire 5  139  702 
			 Northumbria 853 40 28  1,746 
			 Nottinghamshire 215 45 56  1,675 
			 South Wales 9 4 12  1,992 
			 South Yorkshire 725 193 15 2 5,099 
			 Staffordshire 25 2 86  4,473 
			 Suffolk 2  12  115 
			 Surrey 6 6 4  1,838 
			 Sussex 75 16 24  3,746 
			 Thames Valley 138 50 9  439 
			 Warwickshire 39 2 18  356 
			 West Mercia 5  9  20 
			 West Midlands 67 35 179  9,647 
			 West Yorkshire 8 1 9  2,809 
			 Wiltshire 6 22 13  1,438 
			 Unknown   2,451  2,451 
			 Total 10,522 7,155 5,593 11 124,347 
			  Notes: 1. 5,604 records include no ethnic appearance information. 2. Total records relating to people arrested, sampled and not subsequently charged or cautioned for the arrest/sampling offence is 124,347. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of records where a PNC record had been created prior to the arrest and NFA event 
			   6+1 ethnic appearance rating 
			  Force  White European  Dark European  Afro- Caribbean  Asian  Oriental  Arab 
			 Avon and Somerset 46 2 10 1   
			 Bedfordshire 26 1 7 6   
			 Cambridgeshire 397 11 18 16 1 2 
			 Cheshire 318 5 3 6  1 
			 City of London 5 2 3 2   
			 Cleveland 161 1 2 5   
			 Cumbria 528 4 1 6 1 2 
			 Derbyshire 527 2 24 30 1 1 
			 Devon and Cornwall 21  
			 Dorset 347 3 12 2 1 4 
			 Durham 270  1  1 1 
			 Dyfed-Powys 362 3  5 1  
			 Essex 872 12 52 11 3 2 
			 Gloucestershire 325 3 22 6  1 
			 GMP 1,536 13 93 106 2 7 
			 Gwent 109 1 1 2   
			 Hampshire 715 2 12 11  3 
			 Hertfordshire 659 7 62 26  2 
			 Humberside 13  
			 Kent 1,369 18 25 32 2 5 
			 Lancashire 840 7 11 70 1 2 
			 Leicestershire 428 8 28 67 2 1 
			 Lincolnshire 356 2 3 2 1 1 
			 Merseyside 65 1 
			 MPS 1,662 108 932 273 33 54 
			 Norfolk 120  4 1  1 
			 North Wales 442 2 4 3 1  
			 North Yorkshire 264  4 2   
			 Northamptonshire 53 1 5 2   
			 Northumbria 299 1  6  1 
			 Nottinghamshire 335 2 21 10   
			 South Wales 372 2 7 9   
			 South Yorkshire 1,021 10 47 58 4 8 
			 Staffordshire 911 8 29 36 1 1 
			 Suffolk 19   1   
			 Surrey 255 1 7 9  3 
			 Sussex 610 5 22 13  8 
			 Thames Valley 50  13 7   
			 Warwickshire 76  2 3   
			 West Mercia 5  
			 West Midlands 1,227 17 221 241 3 8 
			 West Yorkshire 440 4 25 46   
			 Wiltshire 260 3 8 2   
			 Unknown 1  1 1 1 1 
			 Total 18,717 272 1,742 1,135 60 120 
		
	
	
		
			   Non-ethnic visual appearance code
			  Force  White  Non- white  Unknown  No trace  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 160 
			 Bedfordshire 3 1 1  45 
			 Cambridgeshire 53 4 6  508 
			 Cheshire 1334 
			 City of London 517 
			 Cleveland 8  1  178 
			 Cumbria 4  1  547 
			 Derbyshire 2 2 5  594 
			 Devon and Cornwall 21 
			 Dorset 369 
			 Durham 32  2  307 
			 Dyfed-Powys 5  0 1 377 
			 Essex 33 1 1  987 
			 Gloucestershire 4361 
			 GMP 102 4 28  1,891 
			 Gwent 113 
			 Hampshire 7 6   756 
			 Hertfordshire 5 1 1  763 
			 Humberside 114 
			 Kent 28 3 3  1,485 
			 Lancashire 214 17 29  1,191 
			 Leicestershire 5  3  542 
			 Lincolnshire 2  1 1 369 
			 Merseyside 16 1 1  84 
			 MPS 293 156 64 1 3,576 
			 Norfolk 2  1  129 
			 North Wales 26 1 5  484 
			 North Yorkshire 11  2  283 
			 Northamptonshire 465 
			 Northumbria 29 1 2  339 
			 Nottinghamshire 33 1 2  404 
			 South Wales 7397 
			 South Yorkshire 20 5 2 1 1,176 
			 Staffordshire 181,004 
			 Suffolk 121 
			 Surrey 3278 
			 Sussex 10 1 1  670 
			 Thames Valley 10 2 5  87 
			 Warwickshire 4  1  86 
			 West Mercia 5 
			 West Midlands 45 18 15  1,795 
			 West Yorkshire 6521 
			 Wiltshire 5 2 1  281 
			 Unknown 5 
			 Total 1,058 227 184 4 23,519 
			  Notes: 1. NFAmeans 'No Further Action' taken i.e. the person was arrested and subsequently not charged or cautioned in relation to the arrest/sampling offence. 2. This table shows the number of records where a PNC record had been created for the person before 31 December 2003. This indicates that these persons had previously been charged, reported for summons or sanctioned for at least one previous offence. Sanctions include convictions and cautions (including reprimands and final warnings). 3. Records where the individual was arrested after the 'arrest and NFA event' are not included. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Number of records where a PNC record had not been created prior to the arrest and NFA event 
			   6+1 ethnic appearance rating 
			  Force  White European  Dark European  Afro- Caribbean  Asian  Oriental  Arab 
			 Avon and Somerset 250 8 55 26 3 14 
			 Bedfordshire 26 1 7 17 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 966 34 67 75 14 35 
			 Cheshire 1,129 17 12 17 3 7 
			 City of London 29 3 17 16 1 0 
			 Cleveland 410 1 7 18 7 3 
			 Cumbria 1,305 3 7 10 7 1 
			 Derbyshire 1,999 40 91 119 9 24 
			 Devon and Cornwall 90 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Dorset 1,260 33 33 41 22 25 
			 Durham 390 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,291 18 11 26 10 11 
			 Essex 3,448 94 294 112 42 18 
			 Gloucestershire 1,349 16 73 35 9 3 
			 GMP 4,849 81 467 708 66 108 
			 Gwent 300 4 6 4 0 4 
			 Hampshire 2,675 41 89 90 30 43 
			 Hertfordshire 2,825 96 290 285 34 27 
			 Humberside 9 0 1 0 0 3 
			 Kent 4,248 154 221 185 60 69 
			 Lancashire 3,093 37 56 391 14 24 
			 Leicestershire 1,384 42 187 413 16 50 
			 Lincolnshire 1,004 8 21 22 5 7 
			 Merseyside 65 0 2 1 1 0 
			 MPS 3,704 720 3,333 1,277 460 308 
			 Norfolk 379 16 15 2 1 2 
			 North Wales 1,127 18 11 12 5 7 
			 North Yorkshire 984 9 15 19 1 5 
			 Northamptonshire 422 16 42 17 0 0 
			 Northumbria 491 7 7 7 2 4 
			 Nottinghamshire 882 5 56 39 4 5 
			 South Wales 1,444 12 52 47 4 18 
			 South Yorkshire 2,489 64 157 196 15 95 
			 Staffordshire 2,968 31 113 223 16 23 
			 Suffolk 73 2 4 1 0 1 
			 Surrey 1,174 38 111 137 37 50 
			 Sussex 2,457 67 190 164 40 55 
			 Thames Valley 128 4 22 16 2 0 
			 Warwickshire 181 3 12 17 1 2 
			 West Mercia 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 4,637 131 1,134 1,537 43 167 
			 West Yorkshire 1,692 14 140 398 8 24 
			 Wiltshire 1,006 22 39 34 16 7 
			 Unknown   
			 Total 60,633 1,911 7,467 6,755 1,008 1,251 
		
	
	
		
			   Non-ethnic visual appearance code
			  Force  White  Non- white  Unknown  No trace  Total 
			 Avon and Somerset 15 8 14 0 393 
			 Bedfordshire 105 54 3 0 213 
			 Cambridgeshire 376 83 660 0 2,310 
			 Cheshire 4 3 3 0 1,195 
			 City of London 17 13 11 0 107 
			 Cleveland 9 4 2 0 461 
			 Cumbria 168 3 5 0 1,509 
			 Derbyshire 38 31 5 0 2,356 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 0 92 
			 Dorset 3 2 10 1 1,430 
			 Durham 689 11 371 0 1,463 
			 Dyfed-Powys 6 0 6 0 1,379 
			 Essex 518 83 12 0 4,621 
			 Gloucestershire 24 9 17 0 1,535 
			 GMP 22 7 55 0 6,363 
			 Gwent 5 0 1 0 324 
			 Hampshire 28 23 9 0 3,028 
			 Hertfordshire 41 13 16 1 3,628 
			 Humberside 2 4 16 0 35 
			 Kent 378 97 18 1 5,431 
			 Lancashire 21 3 39 0 3,678 
			 Leicestershire 10 30 1 0 2,133 
			 Lincolnshire 21 7 11 1 1,107 
			 Merseyside 156 6 4 0 235 
			 MPS 4,642 6,039 716 1 21,200 
			 Norfolk 80 3 3 0 501 
			 North Wales 99 4 144 0 1,427 
			 North Yorkshire 4 2 222 0 1,261 
			 Northamptonshire 1 0 139 0 637 
			 Northumbria 824 39 26 0 1,407 
			 Nottinghamshire 182 44 54 0 1,271 
			 South Wales 2 4 12 0 1,595 
			 South Yorkshire 705 188 13 1 3,923 
			 Staffordshire 7 2 86 0 3,469 
			 Suffolk 1 0 12 0 94 
			 Surrey 3 6 4 0 1,560 
			 Sussex 65 15 23 0 3,076 
			 Thames Valley 128 48 4 0 352 
			 Warwickshire 35 2 17 0 270 
			 West Mercia 5 0 9 0 15 
			 West Midlands 22 17 164 0 7,852 
			 West Yorkshire 2 1 9 0 2,288 
			 Wiltshire 1 20 12 0 1,157 
			 Unknown   2,447  2,447 
			 Total 9,464 6,928 5,405 6 100,828 
			  Notes: 1. NFAmeans 'No Further Action' taken i.e. the person was arrested and subsequently not charged or cautioned in relation to the arrest/sampling offence. 2. This table shows the number of records where a PNC record had not been created for the person before 31 December 2003. This indicates that these persons had not previously been charged, reported for summons or sanctioned for an offence. Sanctions include convictions and cautions (including reprimands and final warnings). In these cases, the arrest and NFA event is likely to be the first time an individual came to police attention. 3. Records where the individual was arrested after the 'arrest and NFA event' are not included.

Drink Driving: Greater London

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of drink driving were recorded in each London borough in year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: Incidents of drink driving are not recorded centrally as the summary offences of 'driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs' do not form part of the recorded crime series.
	Available information on the number of convictions at all courts and those dealt with by written warning, taken from the annual Home Office publication Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales Supplementary tables, for the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas, from 1997 to 2004 (latest available) are given in the table.
	Data are not available at London borough level. 2005 data will be available later this year.
	
		
			  N umber of driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs( 1)  offences found guilty at all courts or dealt with by written warning within the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas, 1997-2004 
			  Number of offences 
			  Police force area/police action  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Metropolitan police total findings of guilt at all courts 16,165 13,889 12,414 11,801 11,260 12,905 12,621 13,227 
			 Written warnings 18 39 17 7 6 0 5 0 
			 Total 16,183 13,928 12,431 11,808 11,266 12,905 12,626 13,227 
			 City of London total findings of guilt at all courts 436 301 236 162 162 221 230 169 
			 Written warnings 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 436 301 236 162 162 221 230 169 
			 (1) Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. Work is under way to ensure that the magistrates courts case management system currently being implemented by the Department for Constitutional Affairs reports all motoring offences to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. This will enable more complete figures to be disseminated. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when these data are used.

Golden Arrow Communications

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings his Department's Ministers have held with representatives of Golden Arrow Communications over the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to my answer of 27 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1443W.

Manpower: Home Office

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which committees and working groups in his Department assess the capacity of prisons in England and Wales.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The operational capacity of individual prisons is assessed and agreed on behalf of the Secretary of State by Area Managers and the Director of High Security Prisons (within public sector prisons) and by Regional Offender Managers and the Head of the National Commissioner's Support Bureau (within private prisons).

Prisoner Transfers

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the average number of transfers from one prison to another was per prisoner in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of prisoners were transferred from one prison to another  (a) once,  (b) twice,  (c) three times,  (d) four times,  (e) five times,  (f) six times,  (g) seven times and  (h) eight times or more in the last year for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This information is not held centrally.

Prisoners: British Nationality

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) British nationals were in prison abroad and  (b) non-EU nationals were imprisoned in the UK in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Figures on the numbers of both non-European Union prisoners held in prison establishments in England and Wales and the numbers of new detentions of British nationals held in prisons abroad can be found in the table. The Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Prison Service respectively hold information on prison numbers in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	The figures on the numbers of British nationals detained in foreign prisons were taken from the answer given by my hon. Friend, Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Clegg) to his question on 16 January 2007,  Official Report, column 999W. As at 30 September 2006, we were aware of 2,421 British nationals in detention overseas, either on remand or serving a custodial sentence.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
	
		
			  Non-EU foreign nationals in prisons in England and Wales 
			  30 June:  Number 
			 2002 6,248 
			 2003 7,359 
			 2004 7,043 
			 2005 7,639 
			 2006 8,554 
		
	
	
		
			  British nationals in prison abroad( 1) 
			   Number 
			 2001 7,861 
			 2002 6,501 
			 2003-04 6,744 
			 2004-05 5,227 
			 2005-06 4,814 
			 (1)These are the number of new detentions of British nationals each year, not the numbers held at any given date. The following is a link to show European Union membership http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPagec=Pagecid=1139991776535

Prisoners: Suicide

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the incidence of suicide and self-harm has been for prisoners serving indeterminate public protection sentences.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The exact information about indeterminate public protection sentenced prisoners has not been collated in the requested format and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners: Suicide

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many self-inflicted deaths have occurred in prisons since January 2006.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The number of self-inflicted deaths in prisons between 1 January 2006 and 24 April 2007 is 97.

Prisons: Drugs

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of a switch from soft to hard drugs testing on positive mandatory drug testing rates in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The standard group of drugs covered by mandatory drug testing in prisons remains as it was when the programme was introduced in 1995. There has been no switch from soft to hard drugs testing.

Prisons: Drugs

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the accuracy of mandatory drug testing exercises within prison establishments as a measure of the extent of drug usage in prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The mandatory drug testing programme provides the best measure of the level of drug misuse. Research conducted by the Office for National Statistics published in January 2005 found that mandatory drug testing provides a good indication of patterns and levels of drug misuse over time particularly at a national and regional level or prison category type.

Prisons: Drugs

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons there is no key performance target for targeted mandatory drug tests for prison establishments; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All prisons carry out targeted mandatory drug tests. In order to allow prisons to target testing flexibly to meet local circumstances no key performance target has been set.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Serious Fraud

Anne Moffat: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will assess the merits of introducing plea bargaining in serious fraud cases.

Mike O'Brien: When the Government responded to the recommendations of the Fraud Review on 15 March 2007, they indicated that a working group would be established to explore how far it was possible to introduce a framework for plea negotiations in the context of the criminal courts in England and Wales. The group is scheduled to start its work next month, and a symposium chaired by the Attorney-General will be held on 30 April to explore some of the issues.

Serious Fraud

Ian Austin: To ask the Solicitor-General what role he plans for plea bargaining in combating fraud following the fraud review.

Mike O'Brien: The Government have accepted the recommendations of the Fraud Review that further consideration should be given to the means by which we might introduce a framework for plea negotiations/plea bargaining into our criminal justice system. A working group is being established to engage in detailed consideration of the issues which need to be resolved.

Human Trafficking

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to improve prosecution rates in cases of alleged human trafficking.

Mike O'Brien: Since the introduction of human trafficking offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 the number of prosecutions brought to court has increased from 16 in 2004-05 to 116 in 2006-07.
	The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) can only prosecute those cases which are referred to it by investigators. The CPS is working with colleagues in the Home Office to strengthen and improve investigation, law enforcement and the prosecution process against those who commit human trafficking offences.
	The UK Action Plan on tackling human trafficking, which was published on 23 March 2007, recognises the need to ensure that human trafficking becomes part of 'core' police business by improving the capability of the police and their partners. Actions include the development of 'key diagnostic indicators' to measure performance and progress in dealing with human trafficking issues.
	The United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) is now recognised as the central point for the development of law enforcement expertise. The CPS is working closely with the UKHTC in developing .and taking forward training packages and courses for police, other law enforcement agencies and Crown prosecutors. Training, together with the development of an early victim identification toolkit for front-line police and immigration officers, will enable identification of trafficked victims at the earliest opportunity. This should prevent potential trafficked victims who have committed immigration offences from being removed before providing information or intelligence to investigators.

Crown Prosecution Service: Freemasonry

Tony Wright: To ask the Solicitor-General what provisions exist for legally qualified staff in the Crown Prosecution Service to declare freemasonry membership on appointment.

Mike O'Brien: None.

Fraud: Victims

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps he is taking to ensure that lessons about how to ensure justice for victims of fraud are learned from recent prosecutions.

Mike O'Brien: My hon. Friend has drawn my attention to a recent case involving two constituents which raises issues about the way our current provisions for dealing with confiscation and compensate operate.
	The Fraud Review, commissioned by the Government in 2005, conducted a short survey of fraud victims from a random selection of City of London prosecutions. It was apparent from the survey that victims were predominantly concerned that fraud offences would not be repeated. Victims also hoped to be compensated for their losses, although they had no general expectation that this would happen.
	The Fraud Review recommended that the Crown court should have wider powers to deal with the consequences of fraud offences. The Government have agreed that these recommendations need to be considered further, and that consideration will include wider powers to compensate victims of fraud offences. In relation to wider powers the views and experiences of victims will be one of the main considerations.
	In giving further consideration to these issues, the Government will consider any lessons we might learn from other jurisdictions.

Honours: Prosecutions

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Solicitor-General whether he would proceed with the appointment of named counsel to advise him on whether prosecutions under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 should proceed if the approval of the Leader of the Opposition were not forthcoming.

Mike O'Brien: The Attorney-General has previously indicated the arrangements which his Office will put in place if he is consulted by the Crown Prosecution Service in the current honours case. These will ensure objectivity, independence and transparency through the appointment of independent senior counsel to consider the CPS conclusions and advise. The Attorney-General has undertaken to consult Opposition spokesmen in an attempt to secure prior agreement on the choice of counsel. A decision on who to instruct will be taken then. If, following this process, a decision is taken not to prosecute, counsel's advice relating to that decision will be made public.
	The Attorney-General has made it clear that he will exercise his role independently of Government, in accordance with the law and the evidence. We are clear that our first duty as Law Officers is to the law, not to party politics.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the capability of the Royal Navy to execute carrier-based air superiority missions following the decommissioning of the Sea Harrier; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The primary function of carrier-borne airpower is the direct support of ground operations, for which the Harrier GR7/GR9 aircraft are eminently suited. In an operation where there is a significant air threat to maritime forces, air defence will be provided by either land-based or coalition aircraft in addition to the sea-based air defence capability. In the future, the Joint Strike Fighter will give the joint force the ability to contribute to the full spectrum of fast jet air operations from either a carrier or a land base.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the proportion of  (a) Gap Year Commission and  (b) Combined Cadet Force recruits who entered the regular forces in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: On the subject of Gap Year Commissions, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 February 2007,  Official Report, column 687W, to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Mitchell).
	The information on the proportion of the Combined Cadet Force that go on to join the regular armed forces is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Casualties

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which UK  (a) military and  (b) civilian airports British armed forces casualties are evacuated.

Adam Ingram: To establish an appropriate aeromedical evacuation pathway, British armed forces casualties are medically risk-assessed on an individual basis. Most military patients are flown to RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire or (in the case of a Hercules aircraft transfer) RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.
	Should the medical risk assessment identify an urgent clinical need, arrangements will be made to fly patients to the most appropriate airfield, either military or civilian, for quick access to the receiving hospital or facility. In most cases, the most appropriate airfield will be the East Midlands Airport to enable rapid transfer to the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT), the main reception centre for Service casualties and home of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM). However, other civilian airfields have been used occasionally to place patients in the most appropriate place as soon as possible.
	In the event of large numbers of patients being repatriated, the destination airfield is defined by the Reception Arrangements for Military Patients (RAMP) agreed from a rota produced by the Department of Health (DH) and Department for Transport (DFT) based on:
	Location of available NHS resources and the required treatment for the patients.
	The requirement to avoid overloading facilities in any one NHS region.
	Type of aircraft and the likely patient load.
	Aircraft capability and expected weather conditions.

Armed Forces: Desertion

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions service personnel were recorded absent without leave because NHS hospitals did not notify service authorities of the admission of service patients in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Employment

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen from the 3(rd) Battalion of the Parachute Regiment have been granted permission to serve in the private security sector while still a serving member of the armed forces in  (a) the UK,  (b) Dubai,  (c) Iraq and  (d) Afghanistan in the last five months; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: No serviceman from the 3(rd) Battalion Parachute Regiment has either sought or been granted permission to serve in the private security sector while serving in the armed forces during the last five months in any country. Queen's Regulations for the Army clearly states that such employment is not permitted, This includes personnel who are on terminal leave at the end of their service.

Armed Forces: Housing

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the proportion of personnel who do not have a local connection to any local authority for the purposes of applying for social housing on leaving the armed forces.

Derek Twigg: Information on the number of Service personnel who do not have a local connection with any local authority for the purposes of applying for social housing is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate expense.

Armed Forces: Housing

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from whom the house occupied by the  (a) Commander-in-Chief Land and  (b) Adjutant General is rented.

Derek Twigg: As with all service personnel occupying service families accommodation in England and Wales, the houses occupied by Commander-in- Chief Land and the Adjutant General are owned by Annington Homes Ltd and leased back under the terms agreed under the sale of the Married Quarter Estate in November 1996.

Armed Forces: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department to help members of the armed forces living in Northern Ireland with their transition back to civilian life in each of the last three years; how much of that sum was spent on housing; and what personnel were responsible for this task over the same period, broken down by grade.

Adam Ingram: The cost of providing third line contracted-out career transition partnership (CTP) services to service leavers using the Regional Resettlement Centre (RRC) at Aldergrove during financial years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 was 286,000, 397,000 and 391,000 respectively. These sums cover only the per capita payments made to the CTP contractor, Right Coutts Ltd, for full resettlement service registrations and discharges, and employment support programme registrations and discharges. It does not cover the cost of providing the facilities of RRC Aldergrove to the CTP contractor, or his staffing costs, which cannot be disaggregated from contracted price standing charges for all CTP facility manpower across the UK and Germany.
	Neither do these figures include the cost of resettlement services provided in Northern Ireland by single service education and resettlement staffs: such information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Moreover, disaggregation of the proportion of time spent on resettlement provision by many who also deliver general education services to service personnel stationed in Northern Ireland would be subjective in the absence of recorded activity. The cost of resettlement training for the service leavers using RRC Aldergrove over this period, and their associated travel and subsistence costs, is not held centrally and could also only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the maximum sum claimable by service leavers who discharged over this period in terms of individual resettlement training costs grant only would have been in the order of 900,000.
	None of the per capita sums represents housing costs.
	Since all CTP services are provided under contract, and not directly by the MOD, no MOD personnel were directly involved in delivering services under the CTP contract. Information on the break-down of grade structure of MOD personnel involved in delivering resettlement services at unit or local level could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces living in Northern Ireland received support to aid their transition back to civilian life in each of the last three years; and how many were assisted with housing issues.

Adam Ingram: A total of 2,102 members of the armed forces were discharged through the Regional Resettlement Centre at RAF Aldergrove during financial years 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07, although it is not possible to confirm that all these Service leavers were living in Northern Ireland at the time or subsequently settled in the Province. The breakdown, which does not include serving personnel still moving through the resettlement process, is as follows:
	
		
			   Financial year  
			  Numbers taking up  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  Total 
			 Full resettlement programme 491 615 674 1,680 
			 Employment support programme 194 139 89 422 
		
	
	The personnel moving through resettlement include approximately a further 1,562 Royal Irish (Home Service) redundees who commenced resettlement preparation from 6 January 2006 but have yet to reach their phased exit date. The 1,680 includes 273 RI(HS) who were discharged by March 2007.
	Information on the numbers of these Service leavers assisted with housing is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support is provided to service personnel living in Northern Ireland to aid their transition back to civilian life, with particular reference to housing.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has set up the Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) to provide advice, guidance and support on all aspects of accommodation for those leaving the Services. In addition to this, the Service Leavers Support team provide specific support for Service personnel in Northern Ireland.
	These offices provide links to local authorities and Housing Associations throughout the UK and can offer advice on all housing options available. These include applications for social housing, shared or co-ownership schemes, and advice on renting or purchasing a property.
	The MOD also provides a Long Service Advance of Pay (LSAP) of up to 8,500 repaid over 10 years and prior to discharge to assist in purchasing a property. This is intended to encourage home ownership for those preparing to leave the Services.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Defence Schools Presentation Team visits are planned for 2007;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the percentage of armed forces recruits that can be attributed to the work of the Defence Schools Presentation Teams in 2006;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2007,  Official Report, columns 922-3W, on Defence Schools Presentation Teams, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Defence Schools Presentation Teams on  (a) recruitment and  (b) the public understanding of and relations with the armed forces;
	(4)  pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2007,  Official Report, columns 922-3W, on Defence Schools Presentation Teams, what consultation his Department undertook with each of the services when taking the decision to end the Defence Schools Presentations Teams;
	(5)  whether secondary school teachers will receive training on using the Defence Dynamics programme;
	(6)  what assessment has been made of the likely effects of replacing the Defence Schools Presentation Teams with the Defence Dynamics programme; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  how much time he expects pupils to spend participating in the Defence Dynamic programme in order for that to be considered equivalent to attending a presentation by the Defence Schools Presentation Teams;
	(8)  whether the Defence Dynamic programme will be compulsory for all secondary schools in the United Kingdom; and how he plans to monitor the use of the programme's website.

Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces: Surveys

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the most recent Continuous Attitudes Survey for  (a) the Army,  (b) the Navy,  (c) the Royal Air Force and  (d) service families.

Derek Twigg: With reference to the publication of the Continuous Attitude Surveys for serving personnel, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 March 2007,  Official Report, column 201W. The Service families Continuous Attitude Surveys will be published shortly. I will write to the hon. Member when this has been done and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Defence Dental Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expenditure was on the defence dental services in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: Expenditure on the defence dental services (DDS) is presented in the following table. The total is shown as a sum of Direct Resource Expenditure (R-DELSalaries and consumable resources) followed by Capital Resource Expenditure (C-DELfixed assets) for each year. Indirect DEL (Depreciation etc.) is not included. Prior to 2005, the DDS was a Defence Agency (the Defence Dental Agency).
	Figures for the last five years are:
	
		
			   million 
			  Financial year  RDEL  CDL  Total 
			 2002-03 40.801 0.900 41.701 
			 2003-04 48.677 1.253 49.930 
			 2004-05 49.466 1.205 50.671 
			 2005-06 52.253 0.445 52.698 
			 2006-07(1) 54.400 1.833 56.233 
			 (1) Please note that the figures for the financial year 2006-07 have yet to be finalised.

Defence Dental Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence dental service dental officers were deployed on each operation in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: The number of times military dental officers deployed on operations in each calendar year is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Op Herrick Afghanistan 16 
			 Op TelicIraq  32 24 24 24 
			 Op Palatine Bosnia 8 8
			 Op Occulus Balkans   8 8 8 
			 Op Agricola Kosovo 4 4 4 4

Defence Dental Services

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence dental service dental officers are located at each of the regional defence dental service headquarters in  (a) the UK,  (b) Germany and  (c) Cyprus.

Derek Twigg: As of April 2007 there were nine defence dental service uniformed dental officers working as Principal Dental Officer (PDO) located at regional Headquarters in the UK, one in Germany and one in Cyprus.
	The primary role of a PDO is to provide higher management to the regional dental centres. However, a number of PDOs also provide primary dental care at a dental clinic within their region.

General Service Medal: Suez

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to allow the wearing of the Suez Medal alongside National Service medals; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Service in the Suez Canal Zone during the post-war years was recognised by the institution of the Naval General Service Medal 1915-62 and the General Service Medal 1918-62, with the clasp 'Canal Zone', for service between 1951 and 1954 and the clasp 'Near East', for participation in Operation Musketeer during the Suez Crisis of late 1956. There is no officially recognised 'Suez Medal'.
	Similarly, no medal has been instituted for undertaking a period of National Service. National Servicemen could qualify for campaign medals under the same circumstances as their Regular colleagues. It would be divisive to offer National Servicemen a medal for being conscripted, when those who volunteered for service might not have received any award. Accordingly, there are no plans to introduce a new medal specifically for National Service.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much money was spent on psychiatric aftercare of Territorial Army members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many members of the Territorial Army who have completed tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan have sought psychiatric assistance following demobilisation; what medical support services are provided by the armed forces to members of the Territorial Army on demobilisation; and by what means the Government monitors the health of Territorial Army members following demobilisation.

Derek Twigg: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army  (a) are on deployment in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan and  (b) have served in each country in the last five years.

Adam Ingram: As of 4 April 2007, there were around 280 Territorial Army (TA) personnel deployed in Iraq and around 260 in Afghanistan. This excludes members of the TA deployed on full-time reserve service.
	We estimate that since March 2003 over 10,000 members of the TA have served in Iraq the basis of on mobilisation figures, but exact data is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We estimate on a similar basis that since May 2006 around 450 members of the TA have served in Afghanistan. Data for service in Afghanistan during the preceding years are unavailable.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical services are made available by the armed forces to members of the regular army on the completion of tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Derek Twigg: Members of the regular Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines have access to a wide range of medical and dental services at all times when they are not on operational deployment overseas. The range of services can be summarised as follows:
	Primary Medical Care;
	Regional Rehabilitation Services;
	Dental Services (including dental hygiene);
	Secondary Medical Care at the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT) where the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) is based, at NHS hospitals hosting Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) and other NHS hospitals when required;
	Rehabilitation Services provided by the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC), Headley Court;
	Community and In-patient Mental Health Services.

Military Equipment: Iran

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what UK military equipment was seized by Iran in  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2007; and what its value is.

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value was of United Kingdom equipment seized by Iran in the Iraqi-Iran waterways in  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2007.

Des Browne: holding answer s 24 April 2007
	In 2004 the equipment seized by the Iranian authorities consisted of two Combat Support Boats, six rifles and sights, six pistols and ammunition, radios and navigation equipment, global positioning system and maritime charts. The estimated replacement cost was approximately 500,000.
	The equipment seized by Iranians during the capture of the 15 Royal Naval personnel in 2007 consisted of two Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats, seven carbines, four rifles, 10 pistols and ammunition, communications and navigation systems, body armour, helmets, goggles and camera equipment. The replacement cost is estimated at around 270,000.

Reserved Forces: National Insurance Contributions

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of reservists who are overpaying national insurance; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The change to a new payroll system in April 2007 may impact adversely on the national insurance charge levied on some reservists owing to two or more months' attendance pay being paid at the end of April 2007. It is too early to quantify the extent of the problem because data are still being input by Units and have yet to be analysed.
	Once the extent of any problem has been determined a case will, if appropriate, be made by MOD to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for a central adjustment to correct overpayments. Any individuals who believe they have overpaid national insurance can, in the usual way, claim a refund at the end of the tax year.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departments: Oral Questions

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many questions tabled by right hon. and hon. Members to her Department for oral answer have been transferred to other Departments since May 2005.

David Lammy: Six oral questions tabled by right hon. and hon. Members to the DCMS have been transferred to other Departments between 18 May 2005 and 16 April 2007.
	Questions are only transferred to another Department when it is clear that the DCMS is not responsible for that area of policy, and only when the other Department has agreed to answer it. Members are always notified promptly.

Digital Broadcasting: Cheadle

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of households which will qualify for the targeted assistance scheme for the digital switchover; and how many of those households are in Cheadle constituency.

Shaun Woodward: Our current estimate is that 7.1 million households will be eligible for the Digital Switchover Help scheme (DSHS) nationally. For the Cheadle constituency, we estimate around 10 000 households will be eligible.
	 Notes:
	Totals are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	Eligibility for help from the Digital Switchover Help scheme will be by benefit unit rather than the whole household definition used by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Office to forecast future household growth.
	The definition of a benefit unit is a couple and any dependent children. It excludes adults deemed to be non-dependants who, if eligible, will be able to claim assistance from the Help scheme in their own right.

Digital Broadcasting: Cheadle

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures have been put in place to ensure that those eligible for the Targeted Assistance scheme for the digital switchover in Cheadle constituency are contacted by the most appropriate means.

Shaun Woodward: Using Department for Work and Pensions and local authority data, the Digital Switchover Help scheme operator will write to all eligible individuals well in advance of switchover in their area. This will give options to enable them to continue to receive television services after switchover. Where the scheme operator has information about the particular communications needs of individuals, it will aim to tailor its communications accordingly. In addition, Digital UK will provide generic communications about the Help scheme.

Digital Broadcasting: Cheadle

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures have been put in place to ensure that those eligible for the Targeted Assistance scheme for the digital switchover in Cheadle constituency receive assistance that is appropriate to their individual needs.

Shaun Woodward: The scheme will contact those eligible eight months before their regional switchover, explaining the choices open to them. It will run a free help line so they can obtain more information. Once a choice has been made, the equipment will be delivered and, if necessary, installed.

Digital Switchover

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1550W, on digital switchover, whether the figure includes the households of people who are registered as blind or partially sighted but not on Department of Work and Pensions lists.

Shaun Woodward: We estimate that around 80 per cent. of registered blind and partially sighted people will be over 75 or receive a qualifying disability-related benefit. A further 50,000 people, or 0.7 per cent. of the total eligible households, nationwide may be eligible on grounds of blind or partially sighted registration alone. Our current estimates of the number of households in Whitehaven who qualify for assistance do not include those who qualify on grounds of registration alone but will be within the rounding tolerances given for the Whitehaven estimates.

Energy: Conservation

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2007,  Official Report, column 17W, on energy conservation, if she will list the energy-producing features contained in the Government's Better Public Building initiative.

David Lammy: The Better Public Building initiative aims to encourage high-quality design in all new public building. It does not itself set standards or recommend specific design solutions relating to energy-producing features. Rather, it sets out principles for good design, which include sustainability, and exemplifies its benefits.
	There are therefore no specific requirements for energy-producing features to be incorporated into new build or refurbished buildings within the Government's Better Public Building initiative. However, alongside energy efficiency and low energy measures, it is encouraged and buildings that do so are championed, for example through the Prime Minister's Award for Better Public Building. Information can be found at
	http://www.betterpublicbuildings.gov.uk/
	The section on environmentally sustainable design on pages 8 and 9 of Better public building (December 2006) summarises this position.

Licensing Laws: Urban Areas

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the consistency of application of the Licensing Act 2003 by local authorities in urban areas.

Shaun Woodward: The evaluation of the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 includes a review of the statutory Guidance given to the licensing authorities; the independent review of licence fees, which has included some areas of licensing administration; the impact of the Act on the four licensing objectives; and the DCMS simplification plan published in December last year. The evaluation will not be complete until later this year. It should be noted that the administration of the 2003 Act is devolved by its provisions to local licensing authorities. Local licensing authorities have some discretion to respond to local circumstances and absolute consistency is not an aim of the legislation. Where inconsistency is generated by misunderstanding, the Government have attempted to provide clarification through the statutory Guidance. We expect to publish revised Guidance in the early summer.

Museums and Galleries: Theatre

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) museums and  (b) theatres (i) opened and (ii) closed in (A) the United Kingdom, (B) each region and (C) each London borough in each month of the last five years.

David Lammy: Museums and the arts outside England are devolved matters. Information on local authority funded museums and theatres, or independent museums and theatres, is not held centrally. Four branches of DCMS-sponsored museums have opened in the last five years: The Churchill Suite (April 2003) together with The Churchill Museum (February 2005) at the Cabinet War Rooms, Whitehall, part of the Imperial War Museum and located in the London borough of Westminster; The Museum in Docklands (May 2003), part of the Museum of London Group and located in the London borough of Tower Hamlets; the Imperial War Museum of the North (July 2002) in the north- west; and Locomotion (September 2004) in the north-east, a branch of the National Museum of Science and Industry.
	Two branches of DCMS-sponsored museums have closed in the last five years: The Museum of Liverpool Life (June 2006) in the north-west, part of National Museums Liverpool, but with a new Museum of Liverpool scheduled to open in 2010; and the Theatre Museum (January 2007) part of the Victoria and Albert Museum and located in the London borough of Camden.
	Two Arts Council England-funded producing theatres have opened in the last five years: Hampstead Theatre (February 2003, London borough of Camden) and the Unicorn (December 2005, London borough of Southwark).
	Five Arts Council England-funded producing theatres have closed in the last five years:
	
		
			  Region  Closure 
			 London The Bridewell (December 2004, City of London) and Southwark Playhouse (September 2006, London borough of Southwark) 
			 North West Chester Gateway (March 2007), but new performing arts centre scheduled to open in 2010-11. 
			 South East Gardner Arts Centre, Brighton (March 2007) and The Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke (January 2007, but scheduled to re-open in September 2007)

Sports: Scotland

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the likely reduction in lottery funding for grass-roots sport in Scotland due to the funding requirement of the 2012 Olympics.

Richard Caborn: Lottery money has always paid for a very wide range of sport projects from kit for local teams to investments in major stadia and sports halls. There is no accepted definition of what constitutes grass roots investment or otherwise in this range.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa: Peacekeeping Operations

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received from the British ambassador to the United Nations following the Security Council briefing by the African Union Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary chaired an informal private meeting, bringing together all members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) with the UN Secretary-General and African Union (AU) chairperson on 16 April.
	Following the meeting the UK, as UNSC president, issued a press statement on behalf of the council, welcoming the Government of Sudan's acceptance of the heavy support package to the AU mission in Sudan. It also called on the Government of Sudan to facilitate the immediate deployment of the peacekeeping package, as agreed at the Addis Ababa and Abuja summits last November. It was agreed that the UNSC president would write to the UN Secretary-General to request funding for the package from the General Assembly. The UNSC members also called for an immediate ceasefire; a renewed political process; and an improvement in the humanitarian situation.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Angola

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the activities of Angolan military forces in territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Kahemba district; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Angolan forces are currently positioned in Kahemba on what they consider to be Angolan territory. The Congolese and Angolan Foreign and Interior Ministers have had discussions on the disputed territory of Kahemba and are committed to the peaceful resolution of the border dispute. An investigative commission went to Kahemba and will report to the Democratic Republic of the Congo Parliament in due course.
	On 15 December 2006 Angola signed up to the Security, Stability and Development Pact for the Great Lakes region. With international partners we continue to call on the signatories to ratify the pact, resolve in a constructive manner their shared security and border problems, and ensure their territory is not used by armed groups to infringe on the sovereignty of others.

Mr. Kiyemba Mutale

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) reports she has received and  (b) representations she has made to the Ugandan authorities on the assault of Mr. Kiyemba Mutale on 1 March; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Our high commission in Kampala is following the case of the alleged People's Redemption Army suspects closely. We were concerned by the eye-witness and media reports of an assault on Mr. Mutale.
	We have not made specific representations to the Government of Uganda about Mr. Mutale's case. However, on 5 March my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, raised our concerns about events on 1 March at the Ugandan High Court with the Ugandan high commissioner in London. Our high commissioner in Kampala, with other EU heads of mission, made representations to the acting Foreign Minister, Henry Okello Oryem, on 2 March, including on the violence used by the security forces, and again most recently with other EU heads of mission on 13 April with Foreign Minister Kutesa. We continue to press all sides to respect the rule of law, human rights and abide by the constitution.

Official Visits

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries do not receive an official welcome from the Government for their Ministers on official visits to the UK.

Geoff Hoon: Only Ministers who have been invited as guests of the Government receive an official welcome. On arrival in the UK they are met by a representative of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

Sudan

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps her Department has taken to extend the arms embargo established under UN Security Council resolutions 1556 and 1591 in co-operation with the UN Panel of Experts  (a) to cover the whole of Sudan and  (b) to reflect the full inventory of weapons held by all parties to the conflict.

Ian McCartney: At a meeting of the UN Security Council on 16 April chaired by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, she made the case for further sanctions to press the Government of Sudan and rebel movements to abide by their agreements. We are discussing a draft UN Security Council Resolution with other Security Council members to extend the UN arms embargo to the whole of Sudan covering arms and related military material. If the Sudanese Government and rebels do not co-operate and fulfil their obligations, we must be prepared to take tougher measures.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of statements by the Sudanese Government that 3,000 United Nations peacekeepers will be allowed into Darfur; whether the deployment is to include  (a) attack helicopters and  (b) armoured personnel carriers to help African Union forces; under what remit these peacekeepers will serve; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary welcomed the Sudanese acceptance of the UN's heavy support package (HSP) for Darfur at a Security Council discussion on 16 April. However, it is only a step towards the full African Union (AU)/UN hybrid operation that was agreed six months ago in Addis Ababa. We are now looking to the Sudanese to ensure they honour their commitments through the speedy implementation of the HSP and hybrid force.
	The HSP will include attack helicopters. Armoured personnel carriers are provided through a light support package which is already deploying. The HSP will prepare the way for a foil AU/UN hybrid force, as well as reinforce the police and civilian elements of the current AU mission.

Uganda: Armed Conflict

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of a new ceasefire agreement between the Ugandan Government and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA); what terms have been agreed between both parties; and what reports she has received from the United Nations Special Envoy Joachim Chissano on his meetings with the LRA leader.

Ian McCartney: We are encouraged that the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) was extended on 14 April. The parties have agreed that the LRA will assemble at a designated assembly point in southern Sudan by 25 May. The Juba peace talks are set to resume today. We call on all parties to remain focused on finding a peaceful resolution to this long-running conflict, and to implement their commitments.
	The UN Special Envoy for LRA Affected Areas, former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, briefed the our high commissioner in Kampala along with other members of the international community, most recently on 15 April, following his meeting with LRA leaders on 13 April. We will continue to support his efforts.

Uganda: Human Rights

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment her Department has made of the human rights situation in Uganda; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 19 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 1409-410W.
	We continue to raise our concerns with the Ugandan Government on the issues mentioned in my previous answer. Most recently, we have focused on:
	the forced disarmament programme in Karamoja, where there have been serious allegations of human rights abuses; and
	events surrounding the detention and treatment of the alleged People's Redemption Army suspects, where the violence used by the government forces at the Uganda High Court on 1 March to frustrate the decision of the High Court to grant the suspects bail had grave implications for the independence of the judiciary, respect for the rule of law and human rights in Uganda.
	We will continue to press the Ugandan Government on the need to respect fully human rights.

Zimbabwe: Human Rights

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made to the United Nations Human Rights Council on  (a) political and civil rights,  (b) freedom of the press and  (c) food provision in Zimbabwe.

Ian McCartney: In my address to the Human Rights Council (HRC) on 13 March, I expressed the UK's utter condemnation of the violent repression of peaceful protesters on 11 March. The UK made a statement at the HRC on 29 March expressing our deep concern at events in Zimbabwe. We urged the Government of Zimbabwe to allow its people to express their political views without harassment, intimidation or violence and to repeal repressive legislation that curtails the freedom of the media, expression and association. We also confirmed our commitment to alleviate the suffering of ordinary Zimbabweans caused by the Government of Zimbabwe's misgovernance by continuing to provide humanitarian assistance and food relief.
	In addition, we urged the UN special rapporteur for freedom of opinion and expression and the UN special rapporteur on torture to visit Zimbabwe and report back to the HRC at its sixth session, and welcomed the commitment made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to monitor the judicial process against Mr Tsvangirai and his colleagues.
	Also on 29 March, 50 UN member states supported a statement by the EU presidency at the HRC expressing concern at the situation in Zimbabwe and, at our request, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs briefed the UN Security Council in New York on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations  (a) she and  (b) representatives of her Department have made to (i) Zimbabwean authorities and (ii) the Ugandan authorities on physical attacks on the leaders of the opposition in their countries; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: On Zimbabwe, both my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, have made statements condemning the violent and unwarranted action taken by that country's Government on 11 March and stating clearly that we hold Mugabe and his Government responsible for the safety of all those detained. The same strong message was delivered to the Zimbabwean ambassador in London when he was summoned by my noble Friend Lord Triesman on 13 March. I also condemned the Government of Zimbabwe in my address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 13 March, and both the UK and EU made similar statements of condemnation at the Human Rights Council on 29 March.
	We are not aware of any recent physical attacks against leaders of the Ugandan opposition. However, in our contacts with the Government of Uganda and with Ugandan opposition parties, we continue to stress the importance of maintaining a pluralist democracy, developing civil society, and respecting the rule of law.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Electoral Register: Foreigners

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if the Government will take steps to require foreign individuals who register to vote to prove their nationality.

Bridget Prentice: All electors are required to state their nationality on the canvass form when registering to vote. Furthermore, electoral registers are available for public inspection and anyone who believes that an ineligible person has been included may object and notify the ERO who may then make further inquiries as to the eligibility of that individual. The Electoral Administration Act strengthened this process by:
	Allowing any individual to object to another person's registration details at any time.
	Allowing an ERO to initiate and conduct a review of a person's registration at any time.
	Creating a new criminal offence of supplying false information or failing to supply information to the electoral registration officer at any time.
	Giving the police more time to carry out investigations into electoral fraud (they may apply to court to have the normal one year limit for bringing prosecutions increased to two years, so long as there has been no undue delay in the investigation).

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1790W, on accident and emergency departments, in what format data relating to the catchment areas of accident and emergency departments are collected.

Andy Burnham: In terms of information on accident and emergency (A and E) departments, national health service trusts self-report the number of A and E services they provide against definitions set by the Department for the three types of A and E. This information is not available at the level of individual hospitals.
	Population data are also available at the level of strategic health authorities.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2007,  Official Report, column 117W, on accident and emergency departments, what the evidential basis is for increasing consensus among professional bodies that a critical size of hospital is required to ensure that specialist facilities are available to treat all patients with emergency needs safely; and what the  (a) date of publication and  (b) professional body responsible is in each case.

Andy Burnham: Reports for example by Collins (1999) Organisation of acute general services Joint Consultants Committee, and from the Royal College of Surgeons (2006) Delivering high quality surgical services for the futurea consultation document from the Royal College of Surgeons of England reconfiguration working party, make reference to suggested catchment areas for hospitals and services that should be available.

Arun Community Hospital

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects rebuilding work to begin on Arun community hospital; and if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on community hospitals.

Andy Burnham: We are committed to community hospitals where they represent the best solutions for local communities. As such we have set up a five-year, 750 million programme to support the development of community hospitals and services.
	The future of Arun community hospital is a matter for the local national health service. I am informed by NHS South East Coast that the future configuration of community hospitals, including Arun community hospital, is a key part of West Sussex primary care trust's strategy. However, no decisions on the future of community hospitals in West Sussex will be made until the outcome of the Creating an NHS fit for the future consultation exercise for West Sussex is known.

Blood: Diseases

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to set up a series of recognised regional sickle cell and thalassaemia screening and care centres based on the model developed for cancer care.

Ivan Lewis: The implementation of the screening programmes for sickle cell and thalassaemia has raised the profile of the conditions and increased the demand for services with increased numbers of cases being identified. A range of work is in hand to support clinicians responsible for patients with thalassaemia and sickle cell and help to ensure that patients have access to the same quality of care, including neonates identified by the screening programme.
	A professional group led by the British Society for Haematology (on behalf of the British Committee for Standards in Haematology), and the United Kingdom Forum on Haemoglobin Disorders and supported by the Department and the voluntary sector has developed national standards for the clinical care of children with sickle cell disease. These guidelines were published in October 2006. Standards for the clinical care of children and adults with thalassaemia in the UK were published in June 2005. The guidelines were sponsored by the UK Thalassaemia Society and endorsed by the Department.
	The Department is working with a range of key stakeholders to develop a model of a managed clinical network, to ensure that the potential benefits of the screening programme are achieved and that the complications that require specialist care are managed in the right place with appropriate resources. Ten such networks covering the country are proposed, building on existing expertise, to allow access to comprehensive care to be available across the country.

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what account has been taken by her Department of the views of older people living in care homes who are in receipt of the personal expenses allowance in the annual consultation on residential care charges;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the impact on the quality of life of older people in care homes of an increase of the personal allowance to 40 per week, as part of its annual consultation on residential care charges.

Ivan Lewis: A number of meetings have been held with key stakeholders representing care home residents, to discuss a range of issues relating to the assessment of resources regulations, including the personal expenses allowance (PEA). Stakeholders involved have included voluntary organisations such as Age Concern, Help the Aged, the Nursing Home Fees Agency, the Relatives and Residents Association and MENCAP. The views of stakeholders will be considered and there will be a further meeting with them before recommendations are put to Ministers.
	I have made no assessment of the impact on the quality of life of older people in care homes of an increase of the personal allowance to 40 per week. The PEA was set many years ago at a level that was felt to be appropriate. Since then PEA has been increased annually in line with average earnings. The PEA is provided for care home residents to have money to spend, as they wish, on small items such as on stationery or personal toiletries. It takes into account the fact that people in care homes generally have fewer personal expenses than those living in their own homes. The PEA was increased to 20.45 per week on 9 April 2007.

Cervical Cancer: Vaccination

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department plans to provide guidance on the use of human papilloma virus vaccines in its licence indications.

Caroline Flint: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has set up a human papilloma virus (HPV) subgroup to examine all safety, efficacy and cost issues relating to HPV vaccines. The subgroup is in the process of examining the evidence concerning the available HPV vaccines, including all the licence indications. The sub group's advice will be reported to the main JCVI committee for further discussion. No decisions will be taken on introducing these vaccines into the immunisation programme until the JCVI has presented its advice to Ministers for their consideration.

Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust received in each year since 1992.

Andy Burnham: Revenue allocations were first made to primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2003-04. Prior to this, funding was allocated to health authorities.
	The most recent round of revenue allocations, covering 2006-07 and 2007-08, was announced in February 2005. The table shows the revenue allocations made to Coventry Teaching PCT for this period
	
		
			  Coventry Teaching PCT  
			  Allocation ( million)  
			 2006-07 425.2 
			 2007-08 469.5 
			  Two year increase  
			  million 89.0 
			 Percentage 23.4 
		
	
	The 2003-04 to 2005-06 revenue allocations to PCTs were announced in December 2002. The table shows the revenue allocations made to Coventry Teaching PCT for this period.
	
		
			  Coventry Teaching PCT  
			  Allocation ( million)  
			 2003-04 289.9 
			 2004-05 318.4 
			 2005-06 348.0 
			  Three year increase  
			  million 82.3 
			 Percentage 31.0 
			  Notes: Comparisons between allocations rounds cannot be made for the following reasons:  Revenue allocations were made to health authorities for the period 2000-01 to 2002-03; Changes are made to the weighted capitation formula for each allocations round, therefore, comparisons would not be on a like for like basis; 2003-06 revenue allocations were made direct to PCTs, for the first time, and were on a three yearly basis;  2006-08 is the first year that Primary Medical Services (PMedS) were incorporated onto revenue allocations.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were registered with a general practitioner in each year since 1997.

Andy Burnham: The following table shows the number of patients registered with a general practitioner (or since 2004 with a general practice) in England in each year since 1997.
	
		
			   Numbers (headcount) 
			 1997 50,917,256 
			 1998 51,117,646 
			 1999 50,898,948 
			 2000 51,336,812 
			 2001 51,254,833 
			 2002 51,524,894 
			 2003 52,713,780 
			 2004 52,527,737 
			 2005 52,817,500 
			  Source: The Information Centre general and personal medical services statistics.

General Practitioners: Fees and Charges

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the appropriateness of the entitlement of general practitioners to charge patients for a letter certifying that they may safely attend a gym.

Andy Burnham: General practitioners (GPs) are required to issue specified medical certificates, free of charge. However, GPs also provide a variety of other services which successive Governments have regarded as private matters between the patient and the doctor providing the service. The doctor is free to make a charge for these non-national health service services if he or she wishes. There are no plans to review this.

General Practitioners: Pay

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 39W, when she plans to publish audited financial outturn data on the amount primary care trusts have spent on component 2 of the directed enhanced service for practice-based commissioning.

Andy Burnham: Final spend figures for component two of the practice-based commissioning directed enhanced service, based on audited annual accounts, will be available in summer 2007.

Health Appointments

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1883W, on health appointments, when the Chair of the Appointments Commission will write to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 5 April 2007
	 I understand that the Appointments Commission have now written to the hon. Member in response to his earlier inquiry.

Health Services: Mothers

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of support offered to women with postnatal health problems.

Ivan Lewis: No assessment has been made of the adequacy of the level of support offered to women with postnatal mental health problems.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) postnatal care guideline, published in July 2006, recommends a fully personalised plan for each woman, which takes into account her and her baby's individual needs. The guideline also places great importance on healthcare professionals, taking into account the particular needs of individual families and on having the competencies required for each routine postnatal visit or appointment with the mother or baby, so that they can recognise any signs and symptoms of potentially life-threatening conditions. It recommends that all maternity care providers (whether working in hospital or in primary care) should implement an externally evaluated structured programme that encourages breastfeeding. NICE also made recommendations in its recent guidance to improve services for women who experience mental health problems during or after pregnancy. We expect mental health services available for such women to improve as local services implement the Department's and the Institute's guidance in light of their assessment of local need.
	One of the key commissioning mechanisms of the framework for Commissioning health and wellbeing, which went out for consultation in March 2007, includes placing emphasis on the importance of primary care trusts and local authorities working together to develop practical and deliverable proposals for improving maternity services including the development of maternity, neonatal and perinatal mental health networks and Children's Trusts.
	Our framework document Maternity Matters: Choice, access and continuity of care in a safe service outlines our strategy to deliver and achieve our commitment to give women clinically appropriate choice over the maternity services they will receive. This was published on 3 April and it includes outlining the roles that service providers and commissioners will have in the provision of woman-focused, family-centred maternity services, incorporating the need to commission high-quality, equitable, integrated maternity services as part of maternity, neonatal and perinatal mental health networks according to local need.

Health Visitors: Hampshire

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) head count and  (b) full-time equivalent (i) health visitors and (ii) district nurses (A) were working in North Hampshire primary care trusts (PCTs) in each year between 1999-2000 and 2005-06 and (B) are expected to be working in the new Hampshire PCTs in 2007-08; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 24 April 2007
	The following table gives headcount and full-time equivalent numbers of health visitors and district nurses who were working in the predecessor organisations which now form Hampshire primary care trust (PCT). Data is only available for the years 2002 to 2005 and is provided in the following table. Figures for 2006 will be published in the 2006 NHS Workforce Census on 26 April 2007.
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services: Health visitors and district nurses in each specified primary care trust as at 30 September each specified year 
			   Headcount  Full-time equivalent 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Total specified organisations 498 552 450 417 388 420 325 310 
			  
			 Blackwater Valley and Hart PCT 121 134 100 79 96 103 76 59 
			 Health visitor 59 74 56 49 48 57 43 37 
			 District nurse 62 60 44 30 48 46 33 22 
			  
			 East Hampshire PCT 61 62 60 62 49 50 46 49 
			 Health visitor 41 41 38 39 31 31 28 29 
			 District nurse 20 21 22 23 19 19 18 19 
			  
			 Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT 49 47 36 37 35 34 26 28 
			 Health visitor 31 31 25 24 22 22 17 17 
			 District nurse 18 16 11 13 13 12 8 11 
			  
			 Fareham and Gosport PCT 68 69 88 71 54 52 58 54 
			 Health visitor 45 44 46 41 33 31 32 29 
			 District nurse 23 25 42 30 21 22 26 25 
			  
			 Mid-Hampshire PCT 24 64 51 55 18 46 36 39 
			 Health visitor 11 47 34 37 8 31 22 24 
			 District nurse 13 17 17 18 11 15 14 15 
			  
			 New Forest PCT 55 56 55 51 43 43 39 38 
			 Health visitor 32 30 33 32 23 20 21 21 
			 District nurse 23 26 22 19 20 23 18 17 
			  
			 North Hampshire PCT 120 120 60 62 92 92 44 43 
			 Health visitor 56 54 43 40 40 39 31 28 
			 District nurse 64 66 17 22 52 53 13 14 
			  Notes: The drop in figures between 2003 and 2004 has been explained by the trusts as data cleansing across the Hampshire area. Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.

Hearing Aids: Waiting Lists

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) target and  (b) actual average waiting time is for people requiring a new digital hearing aid from the point of referral from GP to final fitting of the hearing aid in England.

Ivan Lewis: The most complex audiology cases will be covered by the target of treatment within 18 weeks of referral by December 2008, and the remaining routine adult hearing loss cases should be assessed within six weeks by March 2008, in line with the diagnostic waiting time milestone on which local commissioning plans are based. It is also good practice for the subsequent hearing aid fitting to be carried out soon after or at the same time as assessment.
	The information on actual average waiting time for people requiring a new digital hearing aid from the point of referral to general practitioner for final fitting is not held centrally. However, the median wait for audiology assessments is 23 weeks.
	The national audiology framework Improving Access to Audiology Services in England, was published on 6 March 2007, and copies are available in the Library. It sets out clear guidance to the national health service on how to reduce waiting times and how to provide the additional 300,000 pathways that are needed in the run-up to December 2008 to make a maximum wait of 18 weeks from referral to treatment possible for all audiology referrals. It aims to mitigate the risk to 18-week delivery and create a sustainable service model for audiology for the long term.

Hospices: Finance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding her Department provided to  (a) children's and  (b) adults' hospices in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how much she expects to be spent in future years; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not available centrally. The level of funding a hospice receives is a matter for local negotiation between the local primary care trust, who are responsible for commissioning and funding palliative care services locally, and the hospice.
	The Government have delivered on their commitment to make an additional 50 million per annum available for specialist palliative care for adults. The money is now recurrent in PCT baseline allocations. In April 2007, we announced the allocation of 40 million capital funds for adults' hospices to improve their physical environments.
	In September 2006, a fund of up to 10 million was also announced to support Marie Curie Cancer Care's major capital modernisation programme of hospices in North London and Birmingham. The business case has been approved, although the final details have yet to be agreed.
	Voluntary sector children's hospices are receiving funding of 27 million between 2006-07 and 2008-09. They have already been given the first tranche of 9 million in 2006-07.

Hospitals: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria were used to reach the recent decision to postpone the building of a children's and maternity hospital in Leeds; and whether she was directly consulted during the process leading up to the decision.

Ivan Lewis: The national health service in Leeds is committed to providing the highest-quality services, including children's and maternity services, for the people it serves.
	No decision has been made on any part of the Making Leeds Better proposals. The entire health community remains committed to finding a workable solution to improve children's and maternity services in Leeds.
	Yorkshire and the Humber strategic health authority (SHA) has asked Leeds primary care trust (PCT) to review concerns about affordability and to examine all the options available for children's and maternity services in Leeds. The PCT will present a full project plan to the SHA at the end of April.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1194W, on hospital waiting lists, what assessment she has made of the statistical significance of the moderate correlation between the secondary sector clinical targets and service initial positions in 2003-04 and the age-needs index.

Andy Burnham: The distance between several secondary sector service targets and the service initial positions in March 2003-04 is moderately correlated to the age/needs index: the primary care trust health economies with low age/needs had modestly further to travel to achieve the targets. However, numerous parts of the country with low age/needs did not have far to travel in meeting these targets. The correlation is not a perfect one (with correlation co-efficients ranging from -0.28 in the case of distance to the accident and emergency four hour wait and age/needs to -0.13 in the case of distance to the out-patient booking targets and age/needs). The reasons behind the relationship are complex.
	Secondary sector under-performance in low age/needs areas is likely to have existed for some time prior to March 2003-04. By raising the quality of care to uniform national standards, the Government have significantly improved the services provided to patients in these areas.
	The age and need indices, and the interactions between them, are currently being reviewed by independent academic researchers under the auspices of the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation. A new age and need adjustment for weighted capitation may emerge from this research for resource allocation in 2008-09.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for  (a) in-patient,  (b) day case and  (c) out-patient appointments at each hospital in London in (i) 1992, (ii) 1997, (iii) 2001, (iv) 2005 and (v) the most recent year for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 1: Provider based median waiting time information, London NHS Trusts 
			  Median waiting time (weeks) month end 
			March 1992  March 1997 
			  Organisation code  Organisation  In-patient admission ordinary  In-patient admission daycase  Out-patient appointment  In-patient admission ordinary  In-patient admission daycase  Out-patient appointment 
			 RA1 Epsom Healthcare NHS Trust 8.4 7.8 n/a 16.6 10.7 3.3 
			 RAK Royal London Hospital and Associated Community Services NHS Trust 12.3 8.5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAX Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 14.2 10.4 n/a 20.6 12.3 4.6 
			 RAZ St. Helier NHS Trust 15.3 10.8 n/a 17.2 9.6 3.6 
			 RAV The Guy's and Lewisham NHS Trust 15.3 10.9 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAP North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust 15.6 9.9 n/a 25.0 11.8 7.5 
			 RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 17.5 16.1 n/a 15.2 9.8 5.8 
			 RAN Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust London) 18.2 12.6 n/a 11.6 9.2 12.3 
			 RAU Central Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust 23.6 8.3 n/a 17.8 9.1 6.7 
			 RAR Mount Vernon Hospital NHS Trust 25.2 23.7 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAS Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 25.2 8.6 n/a 19.4 9.4 7.2 
			 RC3 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 19.6 11.8 6.1 
			 RF4 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RFW West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 21.2 11.5 7.3 
			 RG2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 16.4 9.7 5.9 
			 RG3 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 19.6 13.3 8.1 
			 RGC Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RGZ Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 22.5 10.9 8.4 
			 R31 Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a n/a 19.3 15.7 7.2 
			 R32 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 13.6 11.7 6.9 
			 RJ5 St. Mary's NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 19.5 10.6 6.9 
			 R36 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 23.9 12.5 4.2 
			 RJ7 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 16.3 10.2 5.0 
			 RJZ King's College Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 19.4 20.4 5.9 
			 RKE Whittington Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 19.9 9.2 5.0 
			 RKL West London Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RNH Newham Healthcare NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 13.1 8.9 7.1 
			 RNJ Barts and the London NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 17.5 10.4 7.5 
			 RNK Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 9.1 
			 RP4 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 11.0 9.0 4.8 
			 RP6 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a n/a 13.2 12.5 8.5 
			 RPY Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2.6 
			 ROM Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a n/a 9.8 8.5 3.8 
			 RON Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 23.9 21.9 4.5 
			 ROX Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a n/a 9.4 8.1 4.5 
			 ROY SW London and St. George's NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 3.2 
			 RRV University College London NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a n/a 14.5 11.3 5.1 
			 RT3 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RV3 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RV8 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RVR Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RWK East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RC5 Harefield Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 10.1 10.4 3.9 
			 RDC Wellhouse NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 21.2 11.3 6.5 
			 RDF Forest Healthcare NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 22.5 17.5 9.3 
			 RFZ Northwick Park and St. Mark's NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 17.5 11.6 6.8 
			 RG4 Redbridge Health Care NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 22.5 20.1 3.9 
			 RG7 Havering Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 15.8 10.4 7.6 
			 RG9 Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 21.9 16.8 7.0 
			 RHG Richmond Twickenham and Roehampton Healthcare NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 21.2 10.7 3.2 
			 RPX Royal Brompton Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 13.6 14.2 2.0 
			 R09 Bethlem and Maudsley NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 13.8 n/a 3.7 
			 RV5 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  Median waiting time (weeks) month end 
			March 2001  March 2005 
			  Organisation code  Organisation  In-patient admission ordinary  In-patient admission daycase  Out-patient appointment  In-patient admission ordinary  In-patient admission daycase  Out-patient appointment 
			 RA1 Epsom Healthcare NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAK Royal London Hospital and Associated Community Services NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAX Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 17.1 12.4 6.1 9.7 8.2 6.6 
			 RAZ St. Helier NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAV The Guy's and Lewisham NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAP North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust 18.7 19.0 11.9 10.7 7.8 7.7 
			 RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 18.3 10.8 8.0 9.1 8.1 7.8 
			 RAN Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust London) 12.4 10.8 9.8 13.4 10.1 11.8 
			 RAU Central Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAR Mount Vernon Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAS Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 12.2 8.3 8.8 10.1 6.6 7.4 
			 RC3 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 16.4 11.2 7.3 10.2 8.0 8.8 
			 RF4 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 12.4 8.6 9.0 
			 RFW West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 26.5 9.8 5.0 13.1 7.9 6.1 
			 RG2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 15.8 9.7 7.2 11.7 6.4 5.8 
			 RG3 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 18.3 17.3 6.3 12.0 8.4 7.1 
			 RGC Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 11.7 10.4 8.4 
			 RGZ Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 24.7 14.3 9.1 11.0 9.6 8.0 
			 R31 Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust 19.7 16.6 10.5 10.1 7.4 8.4 
			 R32 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 21.8 9.3 7.3 7.9 8.7 7.6 
			 RJ5 St. Mary's NHS Trust 13.7 9.1 7.5 8.3 6.6 7.9 
			 R36 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust 26.4 11.7 7.0 9.3 7.8 7.7 
			 RJ7 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 18.2 9.5 7.7 10.6 7.4 6.5 
			 RJZ King's College Hospital NHS Trust 18.0 10.8 6.2 9.3 6.4 6.8 
			 RKE Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 11.4 9.0 5.7 7.0 5.5 6.4 
			 RKL West London Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 6.3 
			 RNH Newham Healthcare NHS Trust 15.1 9.3 7.6 9.9 6.6 6.9 
			 RNJ Barts and the London NHS Trust 18.2 10.5 9.9 8.0 5.6 8.9 
			 RNK Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a 8.5 n/a n/a 7.5 
			 RP4 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 12.5 10.9 9.0 7.5 6.7 5.9 
			 RP6 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 9.0 12.5 6.0 5.2 6.0 11.4 
			 RPY Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a 2.4 3.4 n/a 2.4 
			 ROM Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 11.9 10.5 5.9 9.2 9.0 5.7 
			 RON Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 12.5 8.3 3.6 9.9 8.3 7.4 
			 ROX Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 7.8 7.4 6.6 4.0 3.9 4.4 
			 ROY SW London and St. George's NHS Trust n/a n/a 3.4 n/a n/a 3.2 
			 RRV University College London NHS Foundation Trust 11.9 8.4 6.9 8.6 7.2 6.5 
			 RT3 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust 18.0 16.6 4.5 6.4 8.0 3.9 
			 RV3 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a 5.9 n/a n/a 4.8 
			 RV8 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 18.2 11.0 7.0 11.8 9.8 9.4 
			 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 20.4 11.1 8.6 13.7 11.6 8.3 
			 RVR Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust 18.8 11.6 6.6 12.6 6. 7.7 
			 RWK East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a 5.1 n/a n/a 7.0 
			 RC5 Harefield Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RDC Wellhouse NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RDF Forest Healthcare NHS Trust 22.3 17.8 10.3 n/a n/a n/a 
			 RFZ Northwick Park and St. Mark's NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RG4 Redbridge Health Care NHS Trust 20.3 15.7 7.4 n/a n/a n/a 
			 RG7 Havering Hospitals NHS Trust 17.8 11.5 9.4 n/a n/a n/a 
			 RG9 Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RHG Richmond Twickenham and Roehampton Healthcare NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RPX Royal Brompton Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 R09 Bethlem and Maudsley NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RV5 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust 9.5 n/a 3.3 n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  Median waiting time (weeks) month end 
			December 2006 
			  Organisation code  Organisation  In-patient admission ordinary  In-patient admission daycase  Out-patient appointment 
			 RA1 Epsom Healthcare NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAK Royal London Hospital and Associated Community Services NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAX Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 6.8 8.7 4.7 
			 RAZ St. Helier NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAV The Guy's and Lewisham NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAP North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust 10.7 10.6 5.6 
			 RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 8.6 6.9 5.8 
			 RAN Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust London) 8.4 8.5 8.7 
			 RAU Central Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAR Mount Vernon Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RAS Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 8.0 5.5 5.1 
			 RC3 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 8.4 7.5 5.2 
			 RF4 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 11.3 9.2 7.7 
			 RFW West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 7.0 6.0 6.0 
			 RG2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 12.0 6.7 6.6 
			 RG3 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 10.6 7.8 5.3 
			 RGC Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 9.3 8.6 6.9 
			 RGZ Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 10.5 8.5 4.0 
			 R31 Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust 8.5 6.9 8.1 
			 R32 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 9.4 8.7 6.8 
			 RJ5 St Mary's NHS Trust (1)5.5 (1)5.8 5.8 
			 R36 Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust 6.7 6.5 6.2 
			 RJ7 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 8.3 6.4 4.8 
			 RJZ King's College Hospital NHS Trust 8.3 7.3 4.6 
			 RKE Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 9.0 7.0 4.6 
			 RKL West London Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a 4.6 
			 RNH Newham Healthcare NHS Trust 10.2 9.3 4.4 
			 RNJ Barts and the London NHS Trust 8.5 7.0 8.0 
			 RNK Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a 7.2 
			 RP4 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 7.8 6.9 4.7 
			 RP6 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust n/a 7.7 8.9 
			 RPY Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust 2.6 n/a 2.0 
			 ROM Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 9.2 8.7 6.0 
			 RON Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 7.9 8.1 4.9 
			 ROX Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 7.3 5.7 4.5 
			 ROY SW London and St. George's NHS Trust n/a n/a 2.6 
			 RRV University College London NHS Foundation Trust 8.9 7.3 4.9 
			 RT3 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust 7.1 5.6 4. 
			 RV3 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a 5.1 
			 RV8 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 9. 9.e 6.4 
			 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 9.9 9.7 7.0 
			 RVR Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust 8.8 7.0 5.4 
			 RWK East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust n/a n/a 5.4 
			 RC5 Harefield Hospital NHS Trust n/c n/a n/a 
			 RDC Wellhouse NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RDF Forest Healthcare NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RFZ Northwick Park and St Mark's NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RG4 Redbridge Health Care NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RG7 Havering Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RG9 Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RHG Richmond Twickenham and Roehampton Healthcare NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RPX Royal Brompton Hospital NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 R09 Bethlem and Maudsley NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 RV5 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust n/a n/a n/a 
			 (1) The September 2006 in-patient figures are used for St. Mary's NHS Trust due to pending revisions on the in-patient December 2006 data for this organisation.  Notes: 1. In-patient waiting time based on median wait of those still waiting at end of period. 2. Out-patient waiting times based on time waited for those seen during the quarter.  Source: Department of Health, KH07 and QM08s

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in London waited for  (a) 18 months and over,  (b) 12 months and over and  (c) six months and over for out-patient admission in each quarter of each of the last five years in each primary care trust.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not held centrally. The Department has not collected information on waits of over 26 weeks for out-patients since March 2004, as the current target is only 13 weeks. However, the following table shows how many patients waited over 26 weeks for out-patient admission in each London primary care trust (PCT) from 2002 to 2004.
	
		
			  Number waiting over 26 weeks for an out-patient appointment. June 2002 to March 2004, commissioner based 
			   Number waiting over 26 weeks, month end: 
			  Organisation  June 2002  September 2002  December 2002  March 2003  June 2003  September 2003  December 2003  March 2004 
			 Havering PCT 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kingston PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bromley PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Greenwich PCT 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Barnet PCT 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hillingdon PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bexley PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Enfield PCT 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 City and Hackney PCT 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 24 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Newham PCT 70 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Haringey PCT 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ealing PCT 25 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hounslow PCT 0 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Brent PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Harrow PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Camden PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Islington PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Croydon PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Westminster PCT 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lambeth PCT 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Southwark PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lewisham PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wandsworth PCT 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PC 30 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT 39 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Redbridge PCT 36 0 0 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Redbridge PCT (new) n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			 Waltham Forest PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 0 
			  Note: In the financial year 2003-04 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT divided, part joined Redbridge PCT, which kept its name (and is differentiated from the old PCT using the name Redbridge PCT (new)). The other part joined Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonshire PCT to become Waltham Forest PCT.  Source: Department of Health, QMO8r

Injuries: Offensive Weapons

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) gun-shot and  (b) knife wound injuries were treated in hospitals in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: Information is not collected on the number of gun shot and knife wound injuries treated in hospitals.
	Information is available, however, on patients who were actually admitted to hospital for gun shot and knife injuries (these figures do not include patients who were treated in accident and emergency departments for gun shot/knife injuries and not admitted). Those cause codes that appear relevant to the question are presented in the table as follows.
	
		
			  Count of finished admission episodes for gun shot and knife wound injuries 2001-02 to 2005-06, national health service hospitals, England 
			2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03  2001-02 
			 W32 Handgun discharge 44 38 68 68 68 
			 W33 Rifle shotgun and larger firearm discharge 73 68 95 71 100 
			 X72 Intentional self-harm by handgun discharge 10 15 7 11 12 
			 X73 Intent self-harm by rifle shotgun and larger firearm discharge 17 7 6 7 14 
			 X93 Assault by handgun discharge 44 37 49 47 42 
			 X94 Assault by rifle shotgun and larger firearm discharge 51 51 50 56 64 
			 Y22 Handgun discharge undetermined intent 9 9 6 9 7 
			 Y23 Rifle shotgun and larger firearm discharge undetermined intent 11 7 19 17 17 
			  Total 259 232 300 286 324 
			
			 W26 Contact with knife sword or dagger 5,321 4,939 4,872 4,842 4,672 
			  Notes:  Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Cause code The cause code is a supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects.  Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care.

Mentally Disturbed Offenders

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of people suffering from  (a) personality disorder and  (b) dangerous and severe personality disorder;
	(2)  how many people are  (a) detained and  (b) receiving treatment for (i) personality disorder and (ii) dangerous severe personality disorder.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 20 April 2007
	Personality disorders are common conditions, with a considerable variation in the severity and degree of distress and dysfunction caused. An independent study, The Epidemiology of Personality Disorders by Dr. Paul Moran, in 2002 reported a prevalence rate of personality disorder amongst adults in the community of 10 to 13 per cent. However, this estimate is for all personality disorders, and a separate prevalence rate for dangerous and severe personality disorder (DSPD) was not made in the Moran study.
	Approximately 250 to 300 people are being treated and supported by established specialist national health service personality disorder services, without any form of detention, and an additional 1300 people in new medium secure, community forensic and non-forensic pilot services. Of the latter, about 50 people at any one time will be undergoing in-patient assessment or treatment under sections of the Mental Health Act. There are 40 secure places within forensic mental health services for people with personality disorder who need treatment under detention. A further 400 male patients are detained on court orders under the legal category of psychopathic disorder in secure psychiatric hospitals.
	DSPD is not a clinical diagnosis but a description of a patient profile for those whose personality disorder is of an acuteness or severity and risk to indicate they are likely to be the most serious threat to others. There are an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 individuals in the prison population who meet DSPD criteria. Although there are no existing research data on the number of people with DSPD in the community, further work has been commissioned to provide prospective data about the size of this group, which are expected to be available later this year.
	DSPD pilot services are provided within Rampton and Broadmoor high secure hospitals and Her Majesty's Prisons at Whitemoor, Frankland and Low Newton. The current figures for those receiving assessment and treatment within these services is 66 in the national health service and 143 in the prison estate. All are detained, with a majority serving current prison sentences.

MRSA

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what techniques and procedures are being used to combat MRSA in NHS hospitals; what use is being made of hydrogen peroxide; how widely it is being used for this purpose; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 April 2007
	As part of the Saving Lives programme, which is designed to support national health service trusts in reducing healthcare associated infections like methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), high impact interventions have been developed. The high impact interventions are simple evidence based tools. They reinforce the practical actions that clinical staff need to undertake every time for key procedures in order to significantly reduce healthcare-associated infections including MRSA. They cover preventing the risk of microbial contamination (which includes hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, aseptic technique and safe disposal of sharps), central venous catheter care, peripheral line care, renal dialysis catheter care, preventing surgical site infection, care of ventilated patients and urinary catheter care.
	The Department also published enhanced advice on screening, including decolonisation, in November 2006.
	The Rapid Review Panel (RRP) has reviewed two hydrogen peroxide vapour products and recommended that both products have potential value and that in use trials are now needed. Trials have been undertaken within the national health service and these products have been utilised in outbreak situations.
	It is not known how widely hydrogen peroxide vapour is used in the NHS. The NHS does not collect data regarding the usage of products by individual trusts or collectively for the NHS. NHS trusts are free to choose which products to purchase and will maintain their own records.
	The Department is liaising with all the bodies which play a role in the assessment of innovative products about how the Department might best assist the take-up of products that have a favourable RRP recommendation. Discussions are at an early stage. Ultimately, they will include how innovative products are assessed for cost-effectiveness and their impact on services, thus creating a more streamlined process.

NHS: Finance

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been awarded by her Department under Our health, our care, our community since July 2006, broken down by  (a) strategic health authority and  (b) primary care trust; how many bids have been submitted; what the final period is for the submission of bids; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Ten proposals were received in wave 1. An announcement about four of these was made on the 21 December. Two of the schemes were withdrawn, one did not meet the criteria and we are resolving an outstanding query on one of the schemes. Two of the schemes were carried forward and announced with the second wave.
	The funding allocated to these four schemes totals 44.5 million, and the following chart breaks this down into strategic health authority (SHAs) and primary care trust (PCT) area, and the amount allocated to each scheme.
	
		
			  SHA  PCT  Amount awarded ( million) 
			 North East Sunderland (Washington Primary care centre) 8.96 
			 South Central Hampshire (Gosport War Memorial Hospital) 6.122 
			 South West South Gloucestershire (Yate Community Health Centre) 5 
			 South West Somerset (West Somerset Healthy Living Park) 24.5 
			 Total  44.58 
		
	
	Decisions are still outstanding on the following schemes.
	
		
			  SHA  PCT  Amount requested ( million) 
			  Outstanding from wave one   
			 East Midlands Lincolnshire (Stamford and Rutland Hospital) 0.5 
			
			  Outstanding from wave two   
			 North East Hartlepool (Primary care centreHartlepool) 7.25 
			 North East Berwick upon Tweed (Community Hospital Berwick) 24.701 
			 Yorkshire and Humber North East Lincolnshire (Primary care centreGrimsby) 2.225 
			 Yorkshire and Humber North Yorkshire and York (New Community campusSelby War Memorial Hospital) 3.65 
			 South West Peninsula Gloucestershire (New community servicesBourton and Moreton) 13.23 
			 South West Peninsula Gloucestershire (New facilities for community servicesBerkley Vale) 6.46 
			 South West Peninsula Gloucestershire (RefurbishmentCirencester Hospital) 0.25 
			 South West Peninsula Gloucestershire (RefurbishmentStroud Hospital) 1.1 
			 South West Peninsula South Gloucestershire (Community HospitalKingswood) 16.99 
			 South West Peninsula Bath and North East Somerset (Community care centreKeynsham) 6.51 
			 South West Peninsula North Somerset (RedevelopmentClevedon Hospital) 15.13 
			 South West Peninsula Somerset (RedevelopmentSouth Petherton Hospital) 15.32 
			 South West Peninsula Wiltshire (Redevelopment Chippenham Hospital) 17.85 
			 South West Peninsula Wiltshire (Primary Care CentreSalisbury) 32.92 
			 South West Peninsula Wiltshire (Primary Care CentreSalisbury) 11.6 
			 South West Peninsula Bournemouth and Poole (Community hospital Boscombe) 7.17 
			 South West Peninsula Torbay (RedevelopmentBrixham Hospital) 10.34 
			 Total  193.20 
		
	
	Twenty-five schemes were submitted in wave 2. We approved and announced details of 10 schemes, including two that were carried forward from wave 1, on 11 April.
	The schemes announced on 11 April are listed in the following table.
	
		
			  SHA  PCT  Amount awarded ( million) 
			 South Central Southampton City (Royal South Hampshire Hospital) 6.079 
			 East of England Suffolk (Felixstowe Community Hospitals) 1.76 
			 London Barking and Dagenham (Barking Hospital) 5 
			 London Richmond and Twickenham (New health and social care centreTeddington Memorial Hospital) 3.98 
			 London Haringey (Hornsey Central Hospital) 1.6 
			 Yorkshire and Humber Calderdale and Kirklees (Redevelopment of SitesHuddersfield) 12.91 
			 Yorkshire and Humber Rotherham (Primary care centreRotherham) 0.961 
			 East Midlands Nottinghamshire County (Redevelopment of Ashfield Hospital) 1.149 
			 South West Bristol (South Bristol Community Hospital) 3.9 
			 South East Coast Hastings and Rother (Station Plaza Primary Health Centre) 12 
			 Total  49.34

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the group tasked with the review of general medical services funding to report on its findings and recommendations.

Andy Burnham: The report of the general medical services global sum formula review group, which contains a number of recommendations on changes to the current formula, is now available. The report is currently out for consultation until 11 May. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) total expenditure on enhanced services under the General Medical Services contract and  (b) the total primary care trust enhanced services expenditure floor was expected to be in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07; what actual expenditure on enhanced services was in 2005-06; and what expenditure on enhanced services she expects in 2006-07.

Andy Burnham: Total expenditure on enhanced services under the new general medical services contract (over the period 2004-05 to 2006-07) is estimated to be 2,067 million.
	In 2005-06, the total primary care trust (PCT) enhanced services floor was 676 million. For 2006-07, it was agreed with the British Medical Association's General Practitioner Committee that enhanced services floors would be frozen at 2005-06 levels.
	The overall level of investment by PCTs in 2005-06 is 655 million (based on their audited annual accounts). Forecasts received from PCTs for 2006-07 indicates an overall spend on enhanced services of 824 million.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to launch the 50 million advertising campaign to tackle sexually transmitted infections announced on 26 November 2004.

Caroline Flint: The Department's new adult sexual health campaign, Condom Essential Wear, was launched in November 2006. Approximately 6 million was spent on the campaign in the last financial year on a combination of TV, cinema, radio, press and digital advertising backed by extensive public relations, partnership marketing and the creation of two bespoke websites.
	Funding for the campaign, which targets some of the hardest to reach young people who are at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection, has been agreed at 4 million for the financial year 2007-08. It is too early to say what the funding levels will be for 2008-09.

Young People: Drugs

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the potential impact on young people of the proposed changes to funding for drug and alcohol action teams.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	Drug use among young people is assessed through the Schools Survey and British Crime Survey. Class A drug use is stable and there have been significant reductions in frequent use of any drug by young people. The Government are making 55 million available in 2007-08 to support prevention, early intervention and treatment services for young people experiencing problems with drugs to be used alongside mainstream funding.

PRIME MINISTER

Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if he will review the operation of the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 26 January 2006,  Official Report, column 2271W.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Departments: Paper

David Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of paper used  (a) for photocopying and  (b) in printed publications by his Department was from recycled sources in each of the last three years.

John Prescott: All the paper used in my Office since its establishment in May 2006 has been from 100 per cent. recycled sources.

Departments: Parliamentary Questions

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many questions tabled by hon. and right hon. Members to his Department for oral answer have been transferred to other departments since May 2005.

John Prescott: No oral questions have been transferred to other departments since the establishment of my Office in May 2006.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Employment Agencies: EC Action

Graham Brady: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what responsibilities she has for  (a) the Agency Workers Directive and  (b) other EU legislation.

Hazel Blears: As part of my cross-cutting ministerial role, I am involved in the consideration of specific policy issues as appropriate.

European Parliament

Graham Brady: To ask the Minister without Portfolio for what purpose she visited the European Parliament on 11 April.

Hazel Blears: I visited Brussels on 10 April to undertake meetings on the Agency Workers Directive. My visit to the European Parliament on 11 April was not made in my ministerial capacity.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many pages of new primary legislation were enacted in each year since 1997.

Hilary Armstrong: Statistical information on the number of pages of legislation broken down on a calendar year basis can be found in Standard Note SN/SG/2911 Acts and Statutory Instruments: Volume of UK legislation 1950 to 2006 and is available in the Library for the reference of Members. It can also be obtained on line at:
	http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snsg-02911.pdf.

Primary Care Trusts

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1349W, on primary care trusts (PCTs), what the reasons were for the selection of each PCT visited last year; which Ministers have received copies of the resulting reports; and to whom copies of these reports were circulated.

Hilary Armstrong: Within the last year, the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit (PMDU) has carried out eight reviews on different governmental delivery and reform priorities, which involved visits to 35 primary care trusts (PCTs). For each review a number of sites were chosen to ask front line staff about their experience of delivery and the issues they face. The sites were chosen on the basis of a PCTs characteristics (e.g. urban or rural populations) and local circumstances.
	The final reports that were produced following each of these reviews were developed jointly with the Department of Health, and act as confidential advice to the Prime Minister, Department of Health Ministers and Secretary of State. Each report was circulated by the PMDU to the Prime Minister. In addition, the Department of Health lead official for each review also circulated the report to relevant senior officials within the Department of Health and to relevant Ministers and/or Secretary of State.
	Only one of the eight reviews involved three Government Departments, and as such was therefore shared with the senior officials, and Ministers/Secretaries of State, as appropriate from the Department of Health, Department for Education and Skills, and the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

Training: Treasury

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2007,  Official Report, column 355W, on training: Treasury, which Ministers attended each listed course.

Hilary Armstrong: I refer the hon. Member to the letter sent to him by the National School of Government's principal and chief executive on 15 March 2007 which sets out detailed information on the number of Ministers participating in the learning and development provided by the National School. A copy of the letter is available in the Library for the reference of Members. It would not be appropriate to release the more detailed information you requested.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Armed Conflict: Finance

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding and resources  (a) were committed in each of the last three financial years and  (b) are pledged for each of the next three financial years for the global conflict prevention pool, broken down by regional pool.

Kim Howells: I have been asked to reply.
	The 2004 comprehensive spending round settlement allocated a baseline figure of 74 million each financial year (FY) for the global conflict prevention pool (GCPP) for FY 2004-05 to FY 2007-08. The following table illustrates how funds were allocated to each of the GCPP strategies in each FY. Overall allocation totals each year do not amount to the baseline settlement figure as the pool has a reserve for unplanned activity, carried forward from in-year underspend under Government accounting rules.
	The table also includes figures for the current financial year.
	
		
			million 
			   Financial Years 
			  GCPP Strategy  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Afghanistan - Counter Narcotics 11,471,576 10,000,000 10,000,000 10,000,000 
			 Afghanistan - Main 15,350,000 10,000,000 9,500,000 11,500,000 
			 Balkans 10,450,000 8,250,000 7,500,000 7,500,000 
			 Caribbean 1,000,000 750,000 750,000 750,000 
			 Central and Eastern Europe (closed in 2006-07) 3,450,000 300,000   
			 India - Pakistan 1,350,000 1,000,000 750,000 750,000 
			 Indonesia - East Timor 1,200,000 750,000 500,000 500,000 
			 Iraq 18,342,375 13,880,000 (1)19,500,000 14,000,000 
			 Latin America (incl. Belize/Guatemala) 1,350,000 1,250,000 750,000 750,000 
			 Middle East/North Africa 5,500,000 5,000,000 4,500,000 2,500,000 
			 Nepal 5,500,000 2,000,000 (2)5,200,000 2,300,000 
			 Russia/Commonwealth of Independent States 11,300,000 6,500,000 6,000,000 5,100,000 
			 Security Sector Reform 4,700,000 7,000,000 6,250,000 6,250,000 
			 Small Arms and Light Weapons 5,500,000 4,000,000 3,250,000 3,250,000 
			 Sri Lanka 1,000,000 750,000 500,000 500,000 
			 United Nations 8,600,000 8,500,000 7,500,000 7,400,000 
			 Total 106,063,951 79,930,000 71,750,000 73,050,000 
			 (1) Includes a 7 million in-year uplift from the reserve.  (2) Includes a 3.7 million in-year uplift from the reserve 
		
	
	Funding for the three years from 2008-09 to 2010-11 will be agreed as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review 2007.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Secondary Schools: Parental Choice

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initiatives his Department is pursuing to increase parental choice of secondary schools.

Jim Knight: The Government are committed to creating a real choice of excellent schools for parents. We have placed new duties on local authorities to plan schools with a view to increasing parental choice and to respond to parents. We have created opportunities for new providers to set up schools through competitions. We have introduced a fairer admissions system, with help for parents to exercise their choices, and we have extended parents' rights to free school transport.

Accessible Textbooks

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance his Department has issued to local education authorities on the provision of accessible textbooks; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department has published a training resource Implementing the Disability Discrimination Act in schools and early years settings for schools and local authorities to help them meet their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
	This includes guidance to schools to help them develop their accessibility plans, covering planning improvements to the provision of written materials for disabled pupils over time. All schools can obtain a copy of the resource from DfES Publications.

Framework for Excellence

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Learning and Skills Council plans to take to reflect the different roles and objectives of further education and sixth form colleges when aggregating performance measures into a single star rating as proposed under the framework for excellence.

Bill Rammell: The framework for excellence arrangements will take account of the aims and missions of individual colleges and providers. The Learning and Skills Council will pilot the arrangements for the framework fully during the academic year 2007-08, including developing and testing the processes and criteria for deriving each institution's overall performance rating. The LSC will publish further details on the piloting arrangements in about two months' time.

Secondary School Standards

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to raise standards in secondary schools.

Jim Knight: We are investing over 1 billion in personalising learning by 2008.
	The Secondary National Strategy provides training and support for teachers, including resources and materials for intervention and personalised learning.
	As a result, the number of schools with less than 25 per cent. of pupils achieving five or more good GCSEs is down from 616 to 47, and 86,555 more students achieved that standard than in 1997.
	Reforms at 14-19 will improve vocational skills and will ensure that pupils leave school with functional skills in English, maths and ICT.

Academy Schools

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many academy schools are planned to open in the next 12 months.

Jim Knight: There are currently 47 academies open, and we anticipate that around 35 further academies will be opened in the next 12 months.

Adult Education: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adult learners entered higher education in Copeland in 2005-06.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Number of entrants to undergraduate courses( 1)  from Copeland parliamentary constituency by ageUK higher education institutionsacademic year 2005/06 
			  Age  Number of entrants 
			 Under 18 30 
			 18 230 
			 19 65 
			 20 30 
			 21 and over 445 
			 Total 800 
			 (1) Covers full-time and part-time modes of study.  Note:  Figures are based on the HESA Standard Registration Population and are rounded to the nearest 5.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

City Academies: Sponsorship

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who the sponsor or sponsors are of each academy; and how much each has contributed.

Jim Knight: There are 47 academies now open. Information on the sponsor of each academy and the sponsors' donations received to date towards open academies' capital costsrather than total sponsorship committedis given in the following table.
	Sponsorship for the first academies has been provided in the form of a contribution to the capital costs of buildings. However, we have changed the sponsorship model and sponsors will now, as the norm, establish an endowment fund worth 2 million (or 1.5 million for the fourth or subsequent academy for sponsors of multiple academies), with a minimum of 500,000 payable in the first year. Payment of the endowment will normally be over five years. To date, only one open academy, St Mark's academy in Merton, has this form of sponsorship.
	Sponsors' donations contributing to capital costs are normally made over the lifetime of the building costs of the project, so in some cases a number of payments towards capital costs remain to be made. In other cases, sponsors' payments have been made, but are not recorded in the table as auditors have not yet completed their checks on whether these were spent on capital or recurrent costs.
	We do not keep a record of sponsors' non-capital donations to academies.
	
		
			  000 
			  Open Academy Name  Sponsor(s)  Total evidence of use of sponsor contributions to end of March 2007 
			 The Business Academy, Bexley Garrard Education Trust 2,462 
			 Greig City Academy, Haringey Greig Trust with the London Diocesan Board for Schools 1,664 
			 Unity City Academy, Middlesbrough Amey plc 1,948 
			 City Academy, Bristol John Laycock/University of the West of England 1,670 
			 Capital City, Brent Sir Frank Lowe 1,993 
			 City of London Academy, Southwark Corporation of London 2,000 
			 Djanogly City Academy, Nottingham Sir Harry Djanogly 0 
			 King's Academy, Middlesbrough Emmanuel Schools Foundation 2,006 
			 Manchester Academy United Learning Trust (ULT) 1,286 
			 The Academy at Peckham, Southwark Harris Charitable Trust/Whitgift Foundation 2,986 
			 The Walsall City Academy The Mercers' Company/Thomas Telford Online 2,512 
			 The West London Academy, Baling Alec Reed 2,000 
			 Lambeth Academy ULT 1,500 
			 The London Academy, Barnet Peter Shalson 1,490 
			 Mossbourne Community Academy, Hackney Sir Clive Bourne 1,631 
			 Northampton Academy ULT 654 
			 Stockley Academy, Hillingdon Barry Townsley and others 1,452 
			 Dixons City Academy, Bradford Dixons CTC Trust 612 
			 Harefield Academy, Hillingdon David Meller and others 42 
			 Marlowe Academy, Kent Roger de Haan / Kent County Council 2,183 
			 The Academy of St. Francis of Assisi, Liverpool Diocese of Liverpool/RC Archdiocese of Liverpool 950 
			 St Paul's Academy, Greenwich Archdiocese of Southwark 200 
			 Trinity Academy, Doncaster Emmanuel Schools Foundation 2,000 
			 North Liverpool Academy Liverpool University/Granada Learning 0 
			 Harris Academy Merton Harris Charitable Trust 0 
			 Grace Academy, Solihull Bob Edmiston 2,000 
			 Walthamstow Academy, Waltham Forest ULT 27 
			 Paddington Academy ULT 429 
			 David Young Community Academy, Leeds Diocese of Ripon and Leeds 1,000 
			 Harris Girls Academy East Dulwich Harris Charitable Trust 0 
			 The Harris Bermondsey Academy Harris Charitable Trust 0 
			 Sheffield Springs ULT 1,500 
			 Sheffield Park ULT 1,000 
			 Landau Forte College, Derby Landau Forte Academy Trust 2 
			 Westminster Academy Exilarch's Foundation 0 
			 The Petchey Academy, Hackney Jack Petchey Foundation 932 
			 The Burlington Danes Academy, Hammersmith and Fulham ARK 0 
			 Barnsley Academy ULT 27 
			 The John Madejski Academy, Reading John Madejski 1,820 
			 Sandwell Academy Mercers Company Thomas Telford Online, HSBC, West Brom Albion FC, Tarmac Group 1,692 
			 Haberdashers' Knights Academy Haberdashers1 Livery Company 296 
			 Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham Academy Haberdashers' Livery Company 705 
			 Salford City Academy ULT 214 
			 Gateway Academy, Thurrock Ormiston Trust 0 
			 Macmillan Academy, Middlesbrough Macmillan CTC 400 
			 St Mark's Academy, Merton(1) Diocese of Southwark/CfBT Educational Trust/Toe H 0 
			 Madeley Academy, Telford and Wrekin Thomas Telford On-line 0 
			 (1) 2 million sponsorship to be invested in endowment fund as opposed to towards capital costs

Dentistry: Admissions

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  in what month of the academic year students who are applying to read dentistry at university are required to submit their University and College Admissions Service applications; and what the average time was to inform such students of the outcome of their application in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the maximum number of universities is to which students applying to read dentistry may apply; and whether that figure differs from other university courses;
	(3)  what impact the requirement for students applying to read dentistry at university to make a dental-specific University and College Admission Service application has on their prospects of being accepted on other university courses should they not be accepted on a dentistry course.

Bill Rammell: The deadline for applications to dentistry is 15 October. Institutions are advised to contact UCAS by 31 March with their decisions, and the rejected by default date is 9 May.
	Applicants may make four course choices for dentistry. Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science applications are all restricted to four choices with a deadline of 15 October. All other subjects have an advisory deadline of 15 January with up to six choices available. There are also separate arrangements for Oxford and Cambridge applications.
	In their original application the applicant makes six choices in total, only four of which can be in dentistry. The final two choices can be in any subject. Should all of the applicant's choices be unsuccessful, opportunities to apply for courses remain through UCAS Extra and through the clearing system in August.

Dentistry: Admissions

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications there were to read dentistry at university in  (a) the 2004-05,  (b) the 2005-06 and  (c) the 2006-07 academic years; and how many applications were successful in each year.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 25 April 2007
	The figures are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Applicants and accepted applicants to full-time courses in re-clinical dentistry 
			   Applicants  Accepted applicants 
			 2004-05 2,118 989 
			 2005-06 2,621 1,187 
			 2006-07 2,577 1,114 
			  Source: Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).

Dentistry: Admissions

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what  (a) extra-curricular and  (b) work experience activities are prerequisites for students who wish to apply for dentistry at university.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 25 April 2007
	The criteria used to assess applicants are a matter for individual universities.
	The guidance in the UCAS publication on Progression to Medicine and Dentistry advises that
	Without doubt, admissions tutors for both medicine and dentistry look for strong academic ability, just to prove your ability to cope with straight science, plus clear evidence of a commitment to medicine or dentistry as a career (which can usually be demonstrated via work experience placements).
	In one of the case studies in this publication, work experience in a local dental practice is cited.

Education: EC Action

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the status is of discussions to establish an European Union-wide common school text book; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: No formal discussions have taken place at the level of the United Kingdom or the European Union with a view to establishing a European Union-wide common school textbook. The Department would oppose such a textbook, should it be formally proposed, as it is an important part of schools' autonomy that they are able to decide which resources they use to reach their teaching objectives. Furthermore, the implementation of such an EU-level proposal would be entirely at the discretion of each member state, as there is very little European Community competence in the field of education and training.

Education: EC Grants and Loans

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which projects were funded in support of the last European Youth Week; and what projects are planned in the UK for the next one.

Bill Rammell: The Government do not fund any events for European Youth Week. It is for individual youth organisations to decide how they will participate in this event.
	The UK does send a delegation, selected and organised by youth organisations and their national representative bodies, to the annual Brussels event.

English Language: Au Pairs

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in what circumstances a person living in the UK and working as an au pair from  (a) an EU and  (b) a non-EU state may qualify for full fee remission for English for Speakers of Other Languages fees; and for how long such a person needs to be resident in the UK before qualifying.

Phil Hope: Since 2001, people enrolling on Learning and Skills Council (LSC) supported English for Speakers of Other Languages courses have been entitled to automatic fee remission provided that they meet the LSC's eligibility criteria for publicly funded further education.
	Entry to a course by any learner will depend on an initial assessment which confirms that a Skills for Life ESOL course is the most appropriate way of meeting their learning needs. For au pairs, this is unlikely to be the case as Skills for Life ESOL courses are intended to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged learners in settled communities, not those who are temporarily in the UK possibly with the intention of learning English.
	However, if ESOL is appropriate, the following eligibility and fee arrangements apply:
	Under the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Funding Guidance for 2006/07, the general rule for public funding of further education (FE) is that the learner should have been resident in the UK for three years. Citizens of European Union (EU) countries are also generally considered to be eligible, as long as they have lived in the European Economic Area (EEA) for three years. This three-year residency requirement applies equally to UK citizens who have not been resident in the UK/EEA.
	However, there are already a number of exceptions to this rule that take account of exceptional circumstances. For example, newly arrived spouses do not have to wait the normal three-year period. Provided they are married to a UK resident with settled status they become eligible for FE provision once they have been resident in the UK for one year.
	These residency requirements reflect the Government's view that it is reasonable to expect a person to have established a relevant connection with the UK before being allowed to benefit from funding provided by UK taxpayers. These arrangements are long standing and have generally proved to be a fair measure for determining fee status. The eligibility rules must be met by all adults seeking to qualify under the 'home' fees criteria, including UK nationals returning to this country from outside the EU.
	Although there is no change to the eligibility conditions set out above, changes announced to fee remission will apply to all eligible learners. From August 2007, there will be no automatic fee remission for ESOL courses. Learners who can afford to do so will be asked to make a contribution to the cost of learning at a rate of 37.5 per cent. of the course fee with the Government still paying the majority of the cost. Those who are on benefits or who can evidence very low incomes will be entitled to fee remission.

English Language: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in each London borough he estimates are eligible for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses with full fee remittance.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 16 April 2007
	All learners eligible for support from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and enrolling on Skills for Life ESOL courses are currently entitled to automatic fee remission. Because entitlement is automatic, the LSC does not require evidence related to concessionary fees to be collected on its Individualised Learner Records. Consequently, it is not possible to use this information either to calculate those who would be entitled to full fee remission under current arrangements or to predict accurately for the future.
	However, some evidence has been gathered to help clarify the number of people who will continue to be entitled to full fee remission from August 2007 when ESOL courses will no longer attract automatic fee remission and free tuition will only be available to priority groups, such as people who are unemployed or receiving income-based benefits.
	For example, the South London Learning Partnership carried out a questionnaire with 12 providers covering 2,615 learners. Of these 35 per cent. are employed, of whom 89 per cent. have an income of 15,000 or below, and 51 per cent. are in receipt of benefits. Of the remainder, 19 per cent. thought they would be able to pay. On this evidence, the majority of learners seeking ESOL courses would be entitled to full fee remission.

Further Education: Curriculum

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on plans for the post-16 curriculum.

Bill Rammell: Post-16 students choose a curriculum best suited to their individual needs, interests and aspirations. If the leaving age is raised to 18 as we propose, it is crucial to ensure there is an appropriate curriculum for everyone. We are ensuring a greater post-16 choice through the introduction of employer designed diplomas, reforms to A-level and increased access to the International Baccalaureate.

Headteachers: Vacancies

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the measures set out in the response to the Committee of Public Accounts' 59th Report of 2005-06 on the level of head teacher vacancies.

Jim Knight: Since 1997, head teacher vacancies have remained low and fairly stable. Provisional figures released today show a fall in the head teacher vacancy rate for the maintained sector from 0.8 per cent. in January 2006 to 0.6 per cent. in January 2007. However, we know that some types of schools such as church schools, schools in London and some small schools in rural areas find it harder to recruit senior staff than others.
	Regarding the specific work highlighted in our response to the PAC report, we have made progress on a number of fronts. On vacancy filling, we have provided an additional 10 million funding to the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) to extend its support to schools and local authorities on succession planning. The NCSL is also strengthening work with governor organisations including advice on recruiting school leaders. We have further developed initiatives on bringing on new talent, including the Fast Track and Future Leader programmes. Revised professional standards for teachers, from September 2007, will provide all teachers with a clear, coherent and progressive set of career pathways and help them to prepare for leadership. More broadly, the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) study identified a number of issues affecting recruitment to leadership positions and we will be working with key stakeholders, including the social partners, to make progress on these issues.

Higher Education: Scholarships

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the total value was on income-assessed non-repayable student bursaries administered by the Student Loans Company on behalf of higher education institutions in each year since 2001;
	(2)  how many income-assessed non-repayable student bursaries were administered by the Student Loans Company on behalf of higher education institutions in each year since 2001.

Bill Rammell: The Student Loans Company (SLC) have offered a bursary payment and administration service on behalf of individual higher education institutions since academic year 2006/07. The value and number of bursaries administered by SLC to date are as follows.
	
		
			   Value/Number 
			 Value of 2006/07 bursaries paid to date by SLC on behalf HEIs(1 )( million) 44.672 
			 Number of 2006/07 bursaries paid to date by SLC on behalf HEIs(1) 75,523 
			 (1)( )Figures relate to HEIs in England and Northern Ireland are correct as at 11 April 2007 
		
	
	It should be noted that these figures only represent a part-academic year, and cover only HEIs that have opted to use the SLC's full bursary payment and administration service.
	The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) is responsible for the annual monitoring of access agreements from academic year 2006/07 and will report on the outcome in autumn/winter 2007.
	We are aware that following the introduction of access agreements in 2006, higher education institutions have budgeted to spend in excess of 300 million on bursaries and scholarships benefiting students from low-income backgrounds and other underrepresented groups by 2010-11.

Higher Education: Science

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many undergraduate places there were at universities in England for  (a) physics,  (b) chemistry,  (c) biology and  (d) mathematics in each of the last five years; and how many of these places were filled.

Bill Rammell: Information on the number of places available for each subject is not held centrally. The allocation of places for particular subjects is a matter for individual higher education institutions.
	The latest available information is shown in the table; comparable figures for the 2006/07 academic year will be available in January 2008.
	
		
			  Number of  students( 1)  enrolled  on undergraduate courses, by subjectEnglish higher education institutions academic years 2002/03 to 2005/06 
			   Subject 
			  Academic year  Physics  Chemistry  Biology  Mathematics 
			 2002/03(2) 7,595 10,455 14,140 14,455 
			 2003/04 7,960 10,275 15,215 17,185 
			 2004/05 9,255 10,810 16,125 18,375 
			 2005/06 9,445 10,610 16,805 19,840 
			 (1) Covers students on full-time and part-time modes of study, from the UK and overseas. (2) Excludes the Open University. Prior to 2003/04, all students at the Open University were recorded in the Combined Subjects category.  Notes: Figures are on a HESA Standard Registration Population basis and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Nutrition: Curriculum

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consideration has been given to including practical lessons about healthy food in the primary curriculum.

Jim Knight: Practical food lessons are a statutory requirement within the primary National Curriculum. Pupils carry out practical tasks that develop their knowledge, skills and understanding, including the importance of healthy eating. For example, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Schemes of Work include units on eating more fruit and vegetables and healthy sandwiches. The Department funds Food Partnerships where expert secondary food technology teachers train and support primary colleagues in practical food lessons.

Outdoor Education: Greater London

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) secondary schools and  (b) secondary school pupils have participated in field visits and outdoor learning as a result of the London Challenge Residential Courses programme.

Jim Knight: A total of 31,245 pupils from 295 London secondary schools have participatedor will shortly be participating ina range of residential courses that have been funded by the London Challenge programme.

Personal Social and Health Education: UK Membership of EC

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will place in the Library the guidance provided by his Department to schools on the Key Stage 4 scheme of work for citizenship in sections entitled  (a) How am I part of Europe?,  (b) Euro versus pound and  (c) Debate on the Euro.

Jim Knight: The Department has not issued guidance additional to that which is contained within the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QC) Key Stage 4 scheme of work.
	Schools are not obliged to follow the QCA schemes of work. These are offered as exemplars and can be adopted or adapted as schools decide.

Pupil Exclusions: Intimidation

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were excluded for racist bullying in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: In 2004-05, the most recent year for which we have data, there were 40 permanent and 3,390 fixed period exclusions for racist abuse. In addition there were 130 permanent and 7,680 fixed period exclusions for all types of bullying. We deplore racist bullying and fully back teachers and head teachers in taking tough action whenever it occurs.

Pupil Referral Units

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Government have spent on pupils in pupil referral units with  (a) unstatemented special educational needs,  (b) statemented special educational needs and  (c) special educational needs both statemented and unstatemented in each year from 1997 to 2006.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect the information in the format requested. However, the following table provides details of the total planned expenditure on the provision of education at Pupil Referral Units and total expenditure on SEN pupils both statemented and unstatemented as it is not possible to extract this information. Comparable data are not available prior to 2000-01.
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure by local authorities on the provision of education for children with special educational needs( 1,2 ) and budgeted net expenditure by local authorities on the provision of education for children at Pupil Referral Units( 3)  in England: 2000-01 to 2006-07 
			   
			   Budgeted net expenditure by local authorities on the provision of education for children with special educational needs( 1,2)  Budgeted net expenditure by local authorities on the provision of education at Pupil Referral Units( 3) 
			 2000-01 2,763,226,000 100,309,000 
			 2001-02 2,908,380,000 108,467,000 
			 2002-03 3,038,661,000 134,741,000 
			 2003-04 3,466,180,000 177,444,000 
			 2004-05 3,774,757,000 198,644,000 
			 2005-06 4,120,549,000 227,794,000 
			 2006-07 4,477,300,000 265,256,000 
			 (1) Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools. Does not include any planned expenditure on pupils with SEN attending Pupil Referral Units (PRUs). (2) The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against notional SEN are only indicative of the amount that might by spent by schools on SEN and, from 2004-05 onwards, notional SEN delegated to nursery schools was reported on section 52 for the first time (nursery schools notional SEN accounts for 7.8 million, 9.5 million and 10.3 million of the respective 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 totals). In 2005-06 and 2006-07, local authorities also budgeted 499.6 million and 528.5 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the above table as figures are not available prior to 2005-06. (3) Includes planned expenditure on the provision of education at Pupil Referral Units as defined in section 19 of the 1996 Act. In addition to the figures quoted above, Pupil Referral Units were also allocated School Standards Grants of 7.6 million in 2006-07.  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000 and may not sum due to rounding. 2. The data are drawn from local authorities section 52 Budget Statements (tables 1 and 2) submitted to the DfES. Data are not available prior to 2000-01. 3. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 18 April 2007.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average spending per pupil was in each  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school in the County of Durham in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The available information has been placed in the House Library.

School: Sports

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of school sport helpers who have begun working in schools in the last six months.

Jim Knight: Through the national School Sport Strategy's sports leadership and volunteering programme:
	6,433 young volunteers are engaged in sports volunteering in their schools and local communities; and,
	over 16,000 students were this year involved in planning and running over 1,800 festivals of sport and sports days.

Schools: Buildings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has given schools on the use and suitability of temporary classrooms; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department's guidance encourages authorities and schools to fully consider and compare the costs and benefits of options for the provision of accommodation.
	Central Government capital support for investment in schools has increased from under 700 million in 1996-97 to 6.4 billion in 2007-08 and will rise further to 8 billion by 2010-11. Progress is being made year by year in improving the quality of the school building stock. Given the high levels of funding, authorities have the opportunity to replace temporary classrooms where they are considered to be unsuitable.
	
		
			  Table 1: number( 1)  of registered child care places for children under eight years of age in out of school day careposition at 31 March each year 
			  London boroughs  1997( 2)  2006( 2) 
			  Inner London   
			 City of London 70 200 
			 Camden n/a 1,700 
			 Hackney 1,110 2,000 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham n/a 1,000 
			 Haringey 200 1,700 
			 Islington 1,100 1,300 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 700 1,500 
			 Lambeth n/a 1,900 
			 Lewisham 1,000 2,200 
			 Newham 200 1,900 
			 Southwark 2,100 4,200 
			 Tower Hamlets n/a 1,400 
			 Wandsworth 1,000 3,600 
			 Westminster 700 1,100 
			
			  Outer London   
			 Barking and Dagenham 200 700 
			 Barnet 300 3,100 
			 Bexley 200 800 
			 Brent 300 1,300 
			 Bromley 300 2,400 
			 Croydon 700 3,700 
			 Ealing 500 2,100 
			 Enfield 300 1,800 
			 Greenwich 200 2,300 
			 Harrow 200 1,400 
			 Havering 300 1,100 
			 Hillingdon 100 1,100 
			 Hounslow 600 1,400 
			 Kingston upon Thames 300 1,300 
			 Merton 300 2,200 
			 Redbridge 200 1,300 
			 Richmond upon Thames 400 1,800 
			 Sutton 100 1,200 
			 Waltham Forest n/a 2,000 
			 n/a = Not available. (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 places. (2) Data source: Children's Day Care Facilities Survey. (3) Data source: Ofsted.

Schools: Buildings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in  (a) secondary and  (b) primary schools were taught in temporary accommodation in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Data showing numbers of temporary buildings have been received from local education authorities for three years since 1997, but the data do not show numbers of pupils taught in those buildings.
	Central Government capital support for investment in schools has increased from under 700 million in 1996-97 to 6.4 billion in 2007-08 and will rise further to 8.0 billion by 2010-11. Progress is being made year-by-year in improving the quality of the school building stock. Given the high levels of funding, authorities have the opportunity to replace temporary classrooms where they are considered to be unsuitable.

Schools: Buildings

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on school buildings in each of the last 30 years at current prices.

Jim Knight: Expenditure on school buildings in England each year is determined by each local authority, using both resources both from the Department for Education and Skills and other resources available locally. Accordingly, no central records are kept of expenditure at local authority level. Capital allocations for school buildings and associated capital infrastructure in each of the last 30 years are set out in the following table, in  billion.
	These include ICT capital allocations and, from commencement in 1998-99, projects funded through PFI. Capital expenditure by local authorities will not necessarily be incurred in the year allocations are announced, owing to timing differences.
	Allocation figures have been converted to current prices using the 2005-06 GDP deflator.
	
		
			billion 
			 1977-78 1.4 
			 1978-79 1.3 
			 1979-80 1.0 
			 1980-81 1.1 
			 1981-82 0.8 
			 1982-83 0.7 
			 1983-84 0.7 
			 1984-85 0.7 
			 1985-86 0.7 
			 1986-87 0.7 
			 1987-88 0.6 
			 1988-89 0.8 
			 1989-90 0.7 
			 1990-91 0.8 
			 1991-92 0.9 
			 1992-93 1.0 
			 1993-94 0.8 
			 1994-95 0.8 
			 1995-96 0.6 
			 1996-97 0.7 
			 1997-98 0.9 
			 1998-99 1.1 
			 1999-2000 1.2 
			 2000-21 2.1 
			 2001-22 2.1 
			 2002-23 3.5 
			 2003-24 4.1 
			 2004-25 4.7 
			 2005-26 5.6 
			 2006-27 5.7

Science: Higher Education

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many  (a) chemistry and  (b) physics departments in English universities closed in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: Information on the closure, merger or opening of particular university departments is not collected by the Department. However, subjects like chemistry and physics are starting to become more popular and the measures we are taking to increase demand and the extra 75 million announced last year should help to sustain capacity as demand increases. Physics and chemistry are also taught as major subjects at some 50 and 70 UK institutions respectively. We have consistently made clear that if a physics or chemistry department closes at one institution, the Higher Education Funding Council for England should seek to maintain capacity elsewhere and we announced last year that the council should report to us on how provision can be maintained in this way.

Secondary Education: Urban Areas

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of extending the London Challenge to other areas of England.

Jim Knight: On 4 April 2007, I announced the extension of the London Challenge in London for at least a further three years. I also announced the expansion of a similarly focused London Challenge- type approach to two other parts of the country that face similar challenges to those which have afflicted the capital.
	My decision is based on an assessment of the proven success of the London Challenge programme. Today, more than half of London's pupils get five good GCSEs. London schools have outperformed the rest of the country for three years running and improvements have been seen in every London borough. Ofsted recently reinforced this assessment in its December report Improvements in London Schools 2000-06. The report recommended considering the model
	in other vulnerable areas where performance is a concern.

Special Educational Needs Learners

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the success rates for special educational needs learners are for complete frameworks of  (a) work-based learning,  (b) further education,  (c) adult and community learning and  (d) school sixth forms levels 1 to 3 vocational programmes in each year since 1997.

Parmjit Dhanda: Data on those assessed as having a special educational need (SEN) is not captured on the FE individualised learner record (ILR) databases that underpin the success rate figures produced by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). However, learner self-assessment of whether they have a learning difficulty, disability and/or health problem is recorded on the LSC's learner data for learners participating in work-based learning, further education and adult and community learning.
	In 2004-05 the national success rate for learners in LSC-funded FE provision with a self-declared learning difficulty, disability and/or health problem was 73 per cent. compared to 74 per cent. for those without. Comparable success rates for those in work-based learning or adult and community learning have not been calculated.
	The self-declared information captured on the ILR is very different from the SEN status attributed during compulsory education against a national legitimate and agreed framework, so an analysis using solely the LSC's learner data is deemed to be too inaccurate an approximation to provide a valid response to the question.
	Learner data for school sixth forms is currently not collected on the LSC's ILR, so success rates can not be calculated. However, statisticians in the Department and the LSC are working to collect data which will enable the calculation of these success rates; a date for publication has not yet been agreed.

Special Educational Needs: Hartlepool

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children in Hartlepool  (a) have special educational needs and  (b) were educated in special schools in each year since 1997.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number of pupils with special educational needs and number of pupils in special schoolsposition as at January each year: 1997 to 2006Hartlepool local authority 
			   All schools  Special schools 
			Pupils with statements  Pupils with SEN without a statement  Total pupils 
			   Total pupils  Number  Percentage( 1)  Number  Percentage( 1)  Number  Percentage( 2) 
			 1997 17,038 383 2.2 2,474 14.5 238 1.4 
			 1998 17,154 414 2.4 2,898 16.9 263 1.5 
			 1999 17,263 431 2.5 3,146 18.2 262 1.5 
			 2000 17,250 430 2.5 3,539 20.5 235 1.4 
			 2001(3) 16,986 215 1.3 
			 2002(4) 16,743 439 2.6 3,301 19.7 176 1.1 
			 2003 16,695 431 2.6 2,612 15.6 158 0.9 
			 2004 16,441 411 2.5 2,609 15.9 147 0.9 
			 2005 16.157 383 2.4 2,762 17.1 138 0.9 
			 2006 15,889 362 2.3 2,826 17.8 127 0.8 
			 (1) Number of pupils with a statement of SEN or with SEN without a statement expressed as a proportion of the total number of pupils. (2) The number of pupils in special schools expressed as a proportion of the total number of pupils in all schools. (3) In 2001 estimates were made at a national level because the data for SEN are known to be incomplete, therefore local authority level data are not available. (4) From 2002 SEN data may not comparable with previous years due to underlying changes in data collection.  Source: School Census

Teachers: Termination of Employment

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many primary and secondary school teachers who have left the profession before completing five years of teaching in the last 10 years have not returned to teaching;
	(2)  how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school teachers have left the profession before completing five years of teaching in the last 10 years, broken down by subject.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of full and part-time qualified teachers with less than five years recorded teaching service who left maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in each year between 1995-96 and 2004-05. The number of these teachers who are recorded as not being in maintained sector service at March 2005 is also shown and the head count number of teachers in service each year. These figures include teachers who retired and are the latest information available. The information is not available broken down by subject.
	
		
			  Full and part-time teachers with less than five years recorded teaching service leaving service and those not returning( 1)  1994-95 to 2004-05 
			  Thousand 
			   Nursery and primary  Secondary 
			   Headcount numbers in service( 2)  Numbers left service( 3)  Numbers not returned to service( 4,5)  Headcount numbers in service( 2)  Numbers left service( 3)  Numbers not returned to service( 4,5) 
			 1994-95 216.0 3.3 2.2 212.0 3.3 2.4 
			 1995-96 217.8 3.4 2.2 209.6 3.8 2.8 
			 1996-97 218.3 3.3 2,2 209.8 3.5 2.5 
			 1997-98 217.4 3.8 2.5 209.4 3.9 2.8 
			 1998-99 219.5 4.4 2.8 212.1 4.5 3.2 
			 1999-2000 223.7 4.3 2.7 213.5 4.5 3.1 
			 2000-01 227.7 4.3 2.7 218.1 4.8 3.3 
			 2001-02 229.1 4.2 2.7 224.4 4.7 3.3 
			 2002-03 227.6 5.1 3.5 227.3 5.2 3.8 
			 2003-04(5) 219.2 4.6 3.0 226.5 5.2 3.6 
			 2004-05(5) 220.3 3.7 3.7 230.9 4.4 4.4 
			 2006 224.4   232.3   
			 (1) Teachers leaving service will be counted in each year in which they left and therefore some will be counted more than once if they re-enter service and subsequently leave. An overall estimate of teachers leaving during the 10 year period is not therefore available. In addition teachers who have left service may not have done so permanently. This affects the later years in the series particularly. The increasing trend in teachers shown not returning to service does not necessarily reveal an actual increase in the proportion of teachers leaving service permanently with less than five years service. (2) January of each year. These figures include unqualified teachers. (3) Teachers recorded as out of maintained sector service in England at the end of the year shown. (4) Teachers remaining out of maintained sector service in England at March 2005. (5) Provisional.  Source: Database of Teacher Records (teachers leaving service) and form 618g survey (teachers in service).

Teachers: Training

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase funding for the training of designated teachers over the next three years.

Jim Knight: Care Matters, published in October 2006, set out a range of measures to improve the lives of children in care. Of central importance is improving their education so that we give children in care the best possible chance in life. We propose to put the role of designated teacher on a statutory footing to ensure that all schools have a member of staff responsible for planning and co-ordinating support for the education of young people in care.
	The Department for Education and Skills Comprehensive Spending Review settlement gives us an overall spending envelope for 2008-11 which will enable us to deliver our key priorities for children, young people and learners. Decisions to be taken over the coming months will allow us to make more precise announcements about the allocation of resources towards the summer. A forthcoming White Paper will set out how we will take forward measures to improve the education of children in care.

Textbooks: Visually Impaired

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to  (a) increase the proportion of (i) mathematics and science GCSE textbooks and (ii) English textbooks available in large print or Braille and  (b) make available versions of Key Stage 4 dictionaries and atlases accessible to those with a visual impairment.

Parmjit Dhanda: Part IV of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 requires schools and local authorities to plan to improve access to the curriculum and written materials for disabled pupils over time. This includes all National Curriculum-taught subjects.
	With regard to the availability of text books and materials in electronic and other formats for schools, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 19 March 2007,  Official Report, column 721W, to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham (Lyn Brown).

Truancy

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were  (a) stopped and  (b) cautioned for truancy in (i) Taunton Deane, (ii) Somerset and (iii) England in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Figures from the twice-yearly nationally co-ordinated truancy sweeps that the Department ran until autumn 2006 show:
	
		
			  Number of pupils stopped 
			   Somerset  England 
			 Autumn 2002 95 20,554 
			 Spring 2003 109 14,375 
			 Autumn 2003 69 17,718 
			 Spring 2004 39 11,365 
			 Autumn 2004 126 14,958 
			 Spring 2005 70 12,808 
			 Autumn 2005 80 12,056 
			 Spring 2006 26 10,196 
			 Autumn 2006 94 11,713 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of pupils stopped without good reason for being out of school 
			   Somerset  England 
			 Autumn 2002 21 7,341 
			 Spring 2003 45 5,812 
			 Autumn 2003 0 7,189 
			 Spring 2004 15 5,088 
			 Autumn 2004 54 5,915 
			 Spring 2005 10 5,639 
			 Autumn 2005 42 4,965 
			 Spring 2006 20 4,589 
			 Autumn 2006 72 4,840 
		
	
	Local authorities run sweeps at other times in response to local intelligence but the Department does not collect statistics from these sweeps. The Department does not collect statistics for either Wales or district councils.

Vocational Training: Pilot Schemes

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many qualifications have been awarded under the employer training pilots, broken down by  (a) sector and  (b) level.

Phil Hope: The Employer Training Pilots ran from September 2002 to March 2006, when the pilot areas became part of the Train To Gain programme. The offer in the pilots was of subsidised training leading to a qualification in basic skills or a first Level 2 qualification for employees. The following table from the Learning and Skills Council shows achievements by learners who started on the pilot before end-March 2006 (but excludes about 1,500 those still on their courses).
	
		
			  Employer's industrial sector and qualification type  Number of ETP achievements 
			  Health and social work 53,346 
			 Basic Skills 8,911 
			 NVQ Level 2 43,673 
			 Vocationally Related Qualification at Level 2 762 
			   
			  Manufacturing 35,729 
			 Basic Skills 3,938 
			 NVQ Level 2 29,999 
			 VRQ 1,792 
			   
			  Real estate, renting and business activities 25,428 
			 Basic Skills 3,400 
			 NVQ Level 2 20,132 
			 VRQ 1,896 
			   
			  Other community, social and personal service activities 23,112 
			 Basic Skills 2,326 
			 NVQ Level 2 18,204 
			 VRQ 2,582 
			   
			  Education 13,176 
			 Basic Skills 4,821 
			 NVQ Level 2 7,876 
			 VRQ 479 
			   
			  Construction 12,655 
			 Basic Skills 397 
			 NVQ Level 2 12,119 
			 VRQ 139 
			   
			  Wholesale and  r etail  t rade and  r epair 10,671 
			 Basic Skills 1,210 
			 NVQ Level 2 8,507 
			 VRQ 954 
			   
			  Public administration and defence, compulsory social security 9,226 
			 Basic Skills 4,016 
			 NVQ Level 2 5,030 
			 VRQ 180 
			   
			  Transport, storage and communication 8,664 
			 Basic Skills 1,581 
			 NVQ Level 2 6,495 
			 VRQ 588 
			   
			  Hotels and restaurants 6,685 
			 Basic Skills 829 
			 NVQ Level 2 4,836 
			 VRQ 1,020 
			   
			  Financial intermediation 1,460 
			 Basic Skills 352 
			 NVQ Level 2 913 
			 VRQ 195 
			   
			  Extra territorial organisations and bodies 1,150 
			 Basic Skills 456 
			 NVQ Level 2 444 
			 VRQ 250 
			   
			  Agriculture, hunting and forestry 623 
			 Basic Skills 47 
			 NVQ Level 2 527 
			 VRQ 49 
			   
			  Electricity, gas and water supply 387 
			 Basic Skills 24 
			 NVQ Level 2 354 
			 VRQ 9 
			   
			  Mining and quarrying 372 
			 Basic Skills 5 
			 NVQ Level 2 338 
			 VRQ 29 
			   
			  Private households with employed persons 59 
			 Basic Skills 4 
			 NVQ Level 2 55 
			   
			  Fishing 45 
			 NVQ Level 2 15 
			 VRQ 30 
			   
			 Grand total: 202,788

TREASURY

Competition Law

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of debt outstanding on fines imposed by the European Commission for infringements of competition rules.

John Healey: Information concerning the amount of debt outstanding on fines imposed by the European Commission for infringements of competition rules is not held by HM Treasury.

Competition Law

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total sum of fines was imposed upon each EU member state in 2006 for infringements of competition rules; and how much has been written off.

John Healey: The infringements of competition rules that can result in fines pertain to companies and not member states.

Customs Officers: Manpower

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many customs officers are employed at UK ports; and how many are expected to be employed at UK ports in each of the next five years.

John Healey: Staff engaged on frontline operational activity at the frontier operate in a mobile, flexible and intelligence-led manner. They are not, in the main, allocated to particular ports and their duties may involve them working at ports, airports or inland locations.
	Some 4500 staff from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs' Detection directorate are employed on frontline operational duties at ports and airports. Other HMRC staff also attend ports and airports as part of their official duties.
	HMRC plans to maintain the number of frontline staff employed at UK borders in 2007-08 but no firm figures are yet available for this year or beyond.

Departmental Staff

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2007,  Official Report, column 737W, on departmental staff, if he will redact the personal information and place redacted copies of the staff magazine in the Library.

John Healey: I have nothing further to add to my answer of 5 February 2007,  Official Report, column 737W.

Departments: Art Works

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what pieces of artwork valued at over 1,000 have been  (a) purchased and  (b) transferred to his Department's ownership since July 2006; and what the (i) name and (ii) value is of each.

John Healey: There have been no pieces of artwork purchased by, or transferred to, HM Treasury since July 2006.

Departments: Official Hospitality

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what official  (a) lunches,  (b) dinners and  (c) receptions he hosted in each of the last six months; and what the (i) location, (ii) total cost and (iii) purpose was of each event.

John Healey: The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EC Budget

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of pre-financing made, as project advances, under the latest European Union budget that is due for recovery; what the UK's share is of that funding; and what percentage was reclaimed on such funding from last year's budget.

Edward Balls: HM Treasury does not make estimates for pre-financing. The amounts of pre-financing are recorded in the annual accounts of the European Communities, which are then reported on by the European Court of Auditors.
	The latest figures available for pre-financing and recovery orders are for the 2005 financial year and may be found in the 'Final Annual Accounts of the European Communities 2005' at
	http://ec.europa.eu/budget/library/publications/fin_manag_account/fin_annual_ acc_2005_en.pdf

EC Budget: Rebate

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the agreed rebate to be returned to the EU has been paid; and what the time scale is for future payments.

Edward Balls: None. As agreed at the December 2005 European Council, expenditure on economic development in the new member states will gradually be disapplied from the United Kingdom abatement calculation, from 2009. The following formula will be used for this purpose:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2009 20 
			 2010 70 
			 2011(1) 100 
			 (1) Onwards.

EC Grants and Loans: Taxation

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether campaigning organisations and think tanks that receive EU funding pay tax on such funding.

John Healey: There are no special tax rules which apply to campaigning organisations and think tanks. Where a grant, including a grant from the EU, is given to a non-trading body, then generally no tax liability will arise.

Energy

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decisions on energy were made by the G7 Finance Ministers at their meeting in Washington DC on 13 April; and if he will  (a) place in the Library and  (b) post on his Department's website the final declaration of the G7 Ministers.

John Healey: The outcomes of the G7 discussions in Washington on energy and climate change matters are recorded in the official statement. The convention is for this to be published on the website of the finance ministry chairing the meeting, in this case the United States Treasury. This can be found at http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/hp350.htm. The full text of the statement is attached for information; energy is covered in the third to last paragraph:
	In order to ensure energy security and to address climate change, we consider energy efficiency and the promotion of energy diversification to be important issues for both developed and developing economies. Diversification can include advanced energy technologies such as renewable, nuclear, and clean coal. We agree that market based policy measures should be effectively designed to meet specific conditions in each country.

Gift Aid

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was donated to British charities through Gift Aid between inception and 1999; how much of the Gift Aid Scheme has been donated  (a) since 2000 and  (b) since inception; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: Information on donations using Gift Aid for each year from inception in 1990-91 up to 2005-06 is published on the HMRC website at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/charities/table10-3.xls
	This table will be updated in June 2007.

National Insurance Contributions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what percentage employers' national insurance contributions form of the UK labour cost.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 26 April 21007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking the percentage that employers' national insurance contributions form of the UK labour cost. (133588)
	Estimates of the various components of labour costs are provided by the ONS in its labour costs survey (LCS). LCS estimates are compiled every four years based on information from the annual survey of hours and earnings, labour force survey, annual business inquiry and other data sources. The most recent results were compiled for 2004 and cover sectors C-O of the UK standard industrial classification of economic activities 2003 and businesses with 10 or more employees. The 2004 LCS shows that the proportion of UK labour costs attributable to employers' national insurance contributions is 6.2 per cent.

Oral Questions

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many questions tabled by right hon. and hon. Members to his Department for oral answer have been transferred to other Departments since May 2005.

John Healey: Treasury Ministers answer all questions concerning matters for which we are responsible. Only questions which it would be more appropriate for other Ministers to answer are transferred to other Departments.
	Since May 2005, six of the 400 questions tabled to the Treasury for oral answer have been transferred to other Departments.

Planning Gain Supplement

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the contracts which have been awarded for the provision of information technology in preparation for the introduction of the Planning Gain Supplement.

John Healey: No contracts have been awarded for the provision of information technology in preparation for the introduction of the Planning Gain Supplement.

Planning Gain Supplement

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on preparations for the introduction of the Planning Gain Supplement.

John Healey: The Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs, and the Department for Communities and Local Government have undertaken preliminary work to develop and explore the feasibility of a Planning Gain Supplement since 2004. This has included the publication of one consultation document alongside the 2005 pre-Budget report and three consultation documents alongside the 2006 pre-Budget report. The costs incurred have been borne by the respective Departments as part of the normal policy development process.

Private Finance Initiative

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what commission and consultancy fees have been paid to private finance initiative advisers since 1997.

John Healey: The Treasury does not collate this information centrally.

Private Finance Initiative

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals enabling the National Audit Office to examine the books of private finance initiative providers.

John Healey: In 2006 the Government introduced provisions giving the National Audit Office the right to examine all such documentation as it may reasonably require from the companies involved in PFI contracts as set out in paragraphs 26.7.1 and 26.9.3 of the Standardisation of PFI Contacts (Version 4).

Public Sector: Land

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to whether social and community benefits should carry equal weight in the sale of public sector land as achieving the best price.

John Healey: In general, the Government are always interested in securing the greatest value for money for the taxpayer. Government Accounting's General Principles (24.2.1) exhorts:
	Once surplus assets have been identified, they should be disposed of as quickly as possible subject to value for money considerations.
	Value for money bears on nearly all aspects of deployment of public resources: procurement, asset management, disposals, administrative systems and financing arrangements such as leases and PFI transactions. It means finding solutions which achieve the best mix of quality and effectiveness for the least outlay.
	However, all aspects of a transaction or proposed transaction, financial or otherwise, should be first taken fully into account, comprising any potential auxiliary or tangential benefit, including possible social and community benefits that may be attendant upon the issue, before the terms of a disposal, or other physical conveyance, are concluded.
	The Surplus Public Sector Land Taskforce was set up as part of the Government's response to the Barker Review of Housing Supply to examine cost-effective options for accelerating the release of public sector land in order to increase housing supply.
	Specifically with regard to local authority disposals, the Government's policy is that local authorities and other public bodies should dispose of surplus land wherever possible. Generally it is expected that land should be sold for the best consideration reasonably obtainable. But it is recognised that there are circumstances in which a local authority may consider it appropriate to dispose of land at an undervalue.
	The General Disposal Consent issued in August 2003 in ODPM Circular 06/2003 enables local authorities to make land disposals which will contribute to the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of an area at less than best consideration.

Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets are in place to ensure that members of the public receive a timely response to correspondence to Inland Revenue offices.

John Healey: HMRC aims to deal with 80 per cent. of general correspondence within 15 working days of receipt and 95 per cent. within 40 working days.

Revenue and Customs: Glasgow

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the backlog at the Inland Revenue office in Glasgow;
	(2)  whether people applying to the Inland Revenue office in Glasgow to reclaim a tax overpayment are compensated for lost interest due to the backlog; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Centre 1, HMRC's main processing office in the Glasgow area, receives large volumes of customer correspondence so there is inevitably work in progress at any time. There are no significant backlogs of work at Centre 1.
	There are statutory provisions for making a repayment supplement in addition to a tax repayment in certain circumstances. HMRC's approach to compensation and redress is set out in its Code of Practice COP1 Putting Things Right.

Revenue and Customs: Serious Organised Crime Agency

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies have been made of the feasibility of transferring HM Revenue and Customs' criminal investigative function to the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

John Healey: There have been no studies undertaken into the feasibility of transferring HM Revenue and Customs' criminal investigative function to the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Smuggling

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what resources HM Revenue and Customs plans to allocate for making seizures of prohibited and restricted items at UK ports in each of the next five years.

John Healey: Information is not available in the format requested as HM Revenue and Customs does not specifically allocate resources to making seizures of prohibited and restricted goods. HMRC resources allocated to anti-smuggling work are multi-functional and are deployed flexibly against priorities that are subject to change at any time.

Tax Allowances

Harry Cohen: To ask Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment has been made of the appropriateness of tax breaks for  (a) operations based on debt and  (b) self-employment and sub-contracting which place those arrangements at an advantage over those for direct employment; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The Government monitor all aspects of the tax system on an ongoing basis and policy changes were announced in the recent Budget. In addition, on 8 March I announced a review of the current tax deductibility rules applying to the use of shareholder debt where it replaces the equity element in highly leveraged deals in the light of market developments. The review aims to ensure that existing rules are working as intended, consistent with the Government's focus on ensuring that commercial decisions are taken on a level playing field, to maximise efficient working of the investment chain.

Taxation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's most recent estimate is of the tax gap; and how the Treasury model is used to estimate the amounts.

Edward Balls: There are no reliable estimates of the total tax gap. However, estimates of revenue losses in indirect taxes are available and are reported in 'Measuring Indirect Tax Losses - 2006', which is published alongside the PBR and can be found in the House of Commons Library.

Taxation: Electric Vehicles

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax is paid on the purchase of a new  (a) Toyota Prius and  (b) Honda Accord hybrid car.

John Healey: pursuant to the reply, 25 April 2007, Official Report, c.1163W
	The second paragraph of my answer stated that
	These vehicles are therefore subject to band B CO2 emissions graduated Vehicle Excise Duty. In Budget 2007 the Chancellor built on Budget 2006 changes by further reducing this rate to 35 and freezing it until 2010-11.
	My answer should have said
	These vehicles are therefore subject to the Alternative Fuel Car band B CO2 emissions graduated Vehicle Excise Duty rate. In Budget 2007 the Chancellor built on Budget 2006 changes by further reducing this rate from 30 to 15 and freezing it until 2010-11.
	I very much regret this inadvertent error.

Taxation: Personal Savings

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has any proposals for strengthening the EU savings tax directive.

Edward Balls: We have no proposals at present. A review will take place, in accordance with the directive, in 2008.

Taxation: Self-Assessment

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was received in fines for the late submission of self-assessment tax forms in each of the last nine years.

Edward Balls: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a similar question from the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) on 10 January 2006,  Official Report, column 3138W.
	Penalties paid for the year to end of October 2005 was 39.40 million.

Taxation: Self-Assessment

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were fined for late submission of self-assessment tax forms in each of the last nine years.

Edward Balls: The total numbers of people to whom HM Revenue and Customs issued Late Filing Penalties in each of the last four years are as detailed in the following table. This information is not available prior to 2003-04.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2006-07 1,582,446 
			 2005-06 1,468,476 
			 2004-05 1,482,044 
			 2003-04 1,424,416 
		
	
	A self assessment taxpayer may receive more than one penalty in each year. The table shows the total number of penalty notices issued less the number of penalties cancelled in each year.

Unemployment

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of youth unemployment was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down by region; what the unemployment rate was for all age groups in each region in each year; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: holding answer 23 April 2007
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 26 April 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what has been the rate of youth unemployment in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down into regions and how these figures compare with the unemployment rate for all age groups. (133458)
	For the purpose of this Parliamentary Question, we have taken 'youth' to mean people aged 16-24 years. Estimates of unemployment rates for people aged 16 to 24 by region are not available. Table 1, attached, gives unemployment rates for people aged 16 to 24 for the United Kingdom, as well as unemployment rates for people 16 and over, broken down by region.
	This information is for the 3 months ending December each year from 1997 to 2006 (estimates for 1998 and 2000 are not available). The data are not seasonally adjusted.
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Table 1: unemployment rates( 1)  by age and region of residence United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  thousand 
			   16 to 24 
			  Three months ending December each year  United Kingdom  United Kingdom  North e ast  North  w est  Yorkshire and Humberside  East Midlands  West Midlands 
			 1997 12.7 6.3 8.0 6.7 6.8 5.0 6.1 
			 1998 13.1 6.0 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 
			 1999 11.9 5.6 7.8 5.8 5.8 5.2 6.5 
			 2000 11.8 5.1 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 
			 2001 11.9 5.0 6.6 5.1 4.9 4.4 5.4 
			 2002 11.8 5.0 6.9 4.7 4.8 4.6 5.5 
			 2003 11.4 4.8 6.1 4.5 4.8 4.2 5.6 
			 2004 12.1 4.6 6.3 4.5 4.5 4.0 4.6 
			 2005 13.6 5.0 6.4 4.7 5.4 4.4 5.2 
			 2006 13.8 5.4 6.4 5.2 6.0 5.5 6.5 
		
	
	
		
			  thousand 
			   16 and over 
			  Three months ending December each year  East  London  South east  South  w est  Wales  Scotland  Northern Ireland 
			 1997 5.2 9.2 4.3 5.0 6.8 6.9 8.7 
			 1998 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 
			 1999 4.1 7.0 3.9 4.0 7.1 6.7 6.6 
			 2000 (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 
			 2001 3.8 7.3 3.3 3.5 5.9 6.4 5.8 
			 2002 3.9 6.6 3.9 3.9 5.1 5.9 5.5 
			 2003 3.3 7.0 3.7 3.0 4.9 5.5 6.2 
			 2004 3.6 7.2 3.4 3.3 4.3 5.4 4.6 
			 2005 4.4 7.4 4.1 4.0 5.0 4.9 4.5 
			 2006 4.3 7.9 4.2 3.8 5.2 4.9 4.2 
			 (1) Total unemployed as a percentage of all economically active persons in the relevant age group. (2) Data not available  Source: ONS labour Force Survey (LFS)

Unemployment: Young People

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many 18 to 24-year-olds were  (a) employed and  (b) unemployed in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: holding answer 23 April 2007
	 The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 26 April 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many 18 to 24 year olds have been (a) employed and (b) unemployed, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down into regions. (133459)
	Table 1 gives the numbers of people aged 18 to 24 in employment, broken down by region of residence.
	Table 2 gives numbers of unemployed people aged 18 to 24 in the United Kingdom. Comparable estimates for each region are not available.
	The tables provided are for the 3 months ending December each year from 1997 to 2006 (estimates for 1998 and 2000 are not available). The data are not seasonally adjusted.
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Table 1: People aged 18 to 24 in employment by region of residence United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Thousand 
			  Three months ending December each year  United Kingdom  North East  North West  Yorkshire and Humberside  East Midlands  West Midlands 
			 1997 3,211 131 358 268 240 279 
			 1998 3,185  
			 1999 3,269 132 360 286 222 292 
			 2000 3,243  
			 2001 3,346 139 370 284 246 302 
			 2002 3,406 138 406 291 237 316 
			 2003 3,467 148 414 305 259 306 
			 2004 3,520 161 430 311 262 316 
			 2005 3,505 162 437 312 244 308 
			 2006 3,610 171 425 331 262 308 
		
	
	
		
			  Thousand 
			   East  London  South East  South West  Wales  Scotland  Northern Ireland 
			 1997 294 405 427 255 142 301 106 
			 1998
			 1999 292 441 454 264 147 277 100 
			 2000
			 2001 302 443 457 269 144 292 99 
			 2002 297 412 470 270 160 308 100 
			 2003 321 397 456 291 169 301 103 
			 2004 320 377 470 279 174 318 102 
			 2005 311 390 449 273 173 330 112 
			 2006 317 431 477 281 182 318 108 
			 ''Data not available  Source: ONS labour Force Survey (LFS) 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Unemployed people aged 18 to 24United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			  Three months ending December each year  T housand 
			 1997 419 
			 1998 421 
			 1999 374 
			 2000 369 
			 2001 391 
			 2002 373 
			 2003 364 
			 2004 410 
			 2005 459 
			 2006 488 
			  Source: ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Valuation Office: Contracts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions on confidentiality there are in the contract between Capgemini and Cole Layer Trumble (CLT) to provide a server version of OASIS and workflow software for the Valuation Office Agency.

Stephen Timms: The normal ASPIRE terms and conditions, which prohibit CLT from publicising details of the agreement and restrict the passing on of any confidential information to third parties, are contained in this contract.

Welfare Tax Credits

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1593W, on welfare tax credits, what guidance has been given to those administering tax credits claims affected by the part of the manual referring to undisclosed partners.

Stephen Timms: Chapter 15 of the Claimant Compliance Manual provides guidance on how to deal with a case where HMRC discovers that a claimant has not disclosed that they have a partner. The Claimant Compliance Manual is available on HMRC's website at www.hmrc.gov.uk. Compliance staff refer to that guidance where a case meets the criteria.